DGCA Imposes New Rules on Power Banks, No Charging During Flights

India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has introduced stringent restrictions on the use and storage of power banks and lithium battery-powered devices on aircraft, following a series of mid-flight fire incidents.

Passengers are now prohibited from using power banks to charge portable electronic devices during flights. Additionally, charging power banks themselves via in-seat power outlets provided by airlines is no longer permitted.

Power banks must be carried exclusively in carry-on hand baggage and cannot be placed in overhead stowage bins. This measure aims to ensure quicker detection and response in case of overheating or fire.

The new guidelines stem from a recently issued 'dangerous goods advisory circular' by the DGCA, designed to mitigate hazards associated with lithium batteries in devices carried by passengers and crew.

Airlines have been instructed to make mandatory in-flight announcements about these rules. Passengers must immediately alert cabin crew if any device shows signs of overheating, emits smoke, or produces unusual odors. Carriers are required to report all lithium battery-related safety incidents promptly to the DGCA.

Similar restrictions were adopted last year by international carriers such as Emirates and Singapore Airlines, prompted by comparable safety concerns.

Aviation specialists had called for a need for strict enforcement of the one-cabin-bag-per-passenger policy throughout. Although lithium batteries and power banks are banned from checked luggage due to fire risks in the cargo hold, overcrowded overhead bins often lead airlines to gate-check hand baggage containing these devices.

The DGCA circular stated that the growing prevalence of lithium batteries in rechargeable devices, which can ignite fires if overheated, overcharged, damaged, or short-circuited due to manufacturing defects or mishandling.

Such fires are hazardous as they can be self-sustaining and difficult to extinguish using standard methods. Devices stored in overhead bins or deep within carry-on bags may delay detection by passengers or crew, heightening risks.

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