India has introduced tighter in-flight safety rules governing the use and carriage of power banks and other lithium battery-powered devices, citing growing fire risks on aircraft.
In a Dangerous Goods Advisory Circular issued in November, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that power banks and spare lithium batteries will be permitted only in hand baggage and must not be placed in overhead compartments.
Fires in overhead bins, the regulator noted, are harder to detect and control, posing a greater threat to flight safety.
Why lithium batteries are a concern
Lithium battery fires are especially dangerous because they are highly energetic and can, in some cases, sustain themselves even after initial suppression.
The DGCA pointed out that the widespread use of rechargeable electronic devices has led to a sharp increase in lithium batteries being carried on aircraft.
“Power banks, portable chargers and similar devices containing lithium batteries can act as ignition sources and potentially initiate on-board fires,” the circular said.
The advisory warned that the location where these batteries are stored can significantly worsen the risk.
Batteries kept in overhead bins or buried inside carry-on luggage may be difficult to access or monitor, leading to delayed detection of smoke or flames and slower response by passengers or crew.
According to the regulator, lithium battery fires can be extremely intense and may even cause electronic devices to explode. Such fires can be triggered by overheating, overcharging, crushing, internal short circuits, manufacturing defects, ageing batteries, or damage caused by mishandling.
Unlike conventional fires, lithium battery incidents often require specialised firefighting methods. Airlines told to tighten checks and improve training
The DGCA has directed airlines to review their existing safety risk assessments related to lithium batteries carried by passengers.
Carriers have been asked to strengthen preventive measures, ensure early detection of battery-related incidents, and improve onboard firefighting preparedness.
Crew training has been given special emphasis. Cabin crew must be able to identify early warning signs such as overheating, smoke or flames from devices, use appropriate firefighting equipment, and understand the dangers of smoke inhalation.
Mandatory passenger announcements
Passenger awareness forms a key part of the advisory.
Airlines are now required to inform travellers about the updated safety rules through inflight announcements. Passengers must immediately alert cabin crew if any device emits heat, smoke or an unusual smell.
Airlines, in turn, have been told to promptly report all lithium battery-related safety incidents to the DGCA.
Airports asked to display warnings
Airport operators have also been roped in to spread awareness.
The DGCA has asked airports to display clear safety messages and videos highlighting lithium battery fire risks at terminal entrances, check-in counters, security checkpoints and boarding gates.
Airports have been encouraged to work with airlines and other stakeholders to educate passengers on safe handling of power banks and battery-powered devices, including discouraging last-minute charging just before boarding.
Rise in incidents behind the move
The advisory follows a rise in global safety incidents in which lithium batteries carried onboard aircraft were suspected to be the cause. With air travel growing and electronic devices becoming ubiquitous, the DGCA stressed that preventing battery-related fires will require stricter airline checks, better-trained crew and more informed passengers.
Several international airlines and countries, including Emirates and Singapore Airlines, have previously introduced similar restrictions after lithium battery incidents reported last year.
In October, a passenger’s power bank reportedly caught fire on an IndiGo aircraft taxiing at Delhi airport before a Dimapur-bound flight. No injuries were reported. In January, an Air Busan aircraft caught fire at South Korea’s Gimhae International Airport, with investigators later suggesting the blaze may have been triggered by a power bank due to insulation failure inside the battery.