Why Asian airlines are banning power banks on flights?
What's the story
Several Asian airlines have started restricting carrying power banks, following a spate of overheating and fire incidents in the air.
These include companies like Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, and Air Asia.
The South Korean government's transport ministry said a portable power bank was flagged as a potential cause for an in-flight fire on an Air Busan plane in January.
Investigators found multiple electrical melting marks from the remains of the power bank.
Safety concerns
Global airline incidents linked to power banks
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has recorded more than 500 in-flight incidents involving lithium batteries, related to smoke, fire, or extreme heat in the last two decades.
This has raised safety concerns among airlines across the globe.
Despite their compact size and convenience to charge devices like phones, tablets, laptops and cameras during long-haul flights; these power banks are now under scrutiny due to potential risks associated with them.
Regulatory measures
South Korea's nationwide ban on power banks
In light of safety concerns, South Korea has issued a nationwide ban on passengers from storing power banks and e-cigarettes in overhead cabins on all domestic airlines.
Passengers are now required to keep their power banks either in the seat pocket or under the seat.
The new rules also ban charging a power bank by plugging it into the seat's USB outlet, according to Korea's transport ministry.
Regional restrictions
Airlines in Asia follow South Korea's lead
Due to "incidents of in-flight fires on international airlines, suspected to be linked to power bank usage," Thai Airways has banned passengers from using or charging power banks on flights starting March 15.
Singapore Airlines will also prohibit the use of power banks for charging phones and personal devices in-flight beginning April.
Other low-cost carriers like Air Asia have also introduced similar measures.
Expert opinions
What do experts say about power banks?
Chrystal Zhang, an Associate Professor at RMIT University, explained lithium-ion batteries are generally used in power banks due to their high energy density and relatively low cost.
However, Sonya Brown from UNSW Australia highlighted the risk of overheating due to "thermal runaway," leading to a fire or catastrophic explosion.
She also warned about the potential ignition source risk posed by damaged/swollen lithium batteries with manufacturing defects, overcharging, or overheating.