Following a concerning incident where a passenger’s power bank caught fire on an IndiGo flight, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is contemplating introducing specific restrictions for power banks on board aircraft. This move comes after a review of global safety practices related to electronic devices during flights.
While a complete ban on power banks is not currently being considered, aviation authorities are exploring potential limitations to prevent similar accidents. The decision to implement these restrictions will be made after a thorough examination of international standards and regulations.
The incident occurred on October 19th on an IndiGo flight as it was taxiing at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. Fortunately, the cabin crew quickly contained and extinguished the fire, and no injuries were reported. The aircraft was cleared for operation after necessary checks.
IndiGo’s current policy allows power banks in cabin luggage, provided the power capacity is visible on the battery. However, power banks exceeding 160 Wh are prohibited. For checked baggage, passengers are limited to 15 portable electronic devices (PEDs), with specific regulations for lithium batteries, limiting lithium metal content to 2g and lithium-ion batteries to 100 Wh.
The DGCA’s review of the incident was confirmed by the Civil Aviation Minister, K Rammohan Naidu.
This development highlights the ongoing focus on the safety of lithium batteries, which are common in portable electronic devices, on aircraft. Another incident earlier this month involved a lithium battery catching fire in an overhead compartment on an Air China flight.