DGCA Bans Power Bank Use in Flights

• Written by Yash

  Reviewed by Anjali Sharma

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In a move that will significantly change the in-flight habits of millions of travellers, India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has issued a sweeping ban on the use of power banks during flights. Citing an emerging safety risk from lithium-ion batteries, the new directive (Dangerous Goods Advisory Circular No. 01/2025) shifts these devices from being travel essentials to dangerous goods that require constant monitoring.

Can You Still Carry Your Power Bank on Board?

Yes, but with strict conditions. Power banks and spare lithium batteries are strictly prohibited in checked-in luggage. They must be carried in your cabin baggage. Furthermore, under the new 2026 rules, they cannot be stored in overhead bins. Passengers are now required to keep these devices in their seat pockets or under the seat in front of them, where they are easily visible and accessible.

Why is In-Flight Charging Now Banned?

The DGCA has banned the use of power banks to charge any electronic devices, including phones, tablets, and laptops, for the duration of the flight. This also applies to charging the power bank itself via the aircraft’s seat USB ports.

The reason is the risk of thermal runaway, a phenomenon where a battery overheats and triggers a self-sustaining, intense fire. The regulator noted that fires in overhead bins are harder to detect and control, whereas a device kept at a passenger's seat can be monitored for early signs of smoke or heat.

What Triggered these Sudden Safety Changes?

The directive follows a series of alarming incidents. In October 2025, a power bank caught fire on a flight at Delhi Airport while taxiing. Similar incidents in South Korea and China throughout late 2025 left cabins filled with smoke, prompting emergency evacuations. Aviation experts warned that as batteries age or suffer from manufacturing defects, the risk of explosion during the pressure changes of a flight increases significantly.

What are the New Responsibilities for Passengers?

Travellers must now be more vigilant than ever. The DGCA has mandated that:

• Report Heat Immediately: Passengers must alert the cabin crew the moment a device feels unusually hot, smells strange, or emits smoke.
• Observe Capacity Limits: Only power banks with a capacity of 100 Watt-hours (Wh) or less, roughly 27,000 mAh, are allowed without prior airline approval.
• Stay Informed: Airlines will now make mandatory pre-flight announcements specifically regarding these battery risks.

How will Airlines Enforce these Rules?

Airlines have been instructed to retrain cabin crew in specialised firefighting for lithium-ion battery fires, which cannot always be extinguished with water. Airport operators are also installing warning videos and notices at check-in counters and boarding gates to ensure passengers do not inadvertently break the law.