Powerbanks banned on planes due to fire hazard

China's Civil Aviation Administration announced a ban on carrying power banks without 3C safety certification and devices recalled by manufacturers on planes starting Saturday. The new rules are intended to improve flight safety following numerous incidents, including fires caused by batteries.

The new rules announced Thursday apply to all passengers boarding flights in China. They are a response to a series of incidents involving lithium battery products. The ban does not apply to devices with the China Compulsory Certification.

Lithium batteries in devices may cause smoke or open flames if short-circuited.

The media recalls that the probable cause of the fire on the Air Busan plane in January was the ignition of an external battery, and in March a Hong Kong Airlines plane made an emergency landing due to a fire in the storage compartment.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recorded an average of three battery-related incidents every two weeks in 2023, Reuters reports.

Globally, airlines are tightening regulations, typically requiring external batteries to be in carry-on luggage and visible. China has banned charging devices with power banks during flights since 2014.

From Beijing Krzysztof Pawliszak (PAP)

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