New Delhi: India’s aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has banned the use of power banks for charging mobile phones and other electronic devices during flights, citing safety concerns linked to lithium battery fires.

Under the new rules, passengers will not be allowed to use power banks to charge devices at any point during a flight, including through aircraft seat power outlets. The restriction follows a series of incidents worldwide involving lithium batteries overheating or catching fire.

Emirates and Singapore Airlines had previously introduced similar restrictions in October and April 2025, respectively.

In a Dangerous Goods Advisory Circular issued in November, the DGCA clarified that power banks and spare lithium batteries may only be carried in hand baggage and must not be placed in overhead compartments. The regulator warned that fires in such locations are difficult to detect and access during flight.

Lithium battery fires can be self-sustaining

Explaining the risks, the DGCA said lithium battery fires can be triggered by uncontrolled heating, overcharging, crushing or internal short circuits caused by poor manufacturing quality, ageing batteries or damage due to mishandling. Such fires are particularly dangerous because they are highly energetic and can be self-sustaining, making them difficult to extinguish.

“The widespread use of lithium batteries in rechargeable devices has led to an increase in their carriage by air,” the advisory noted. “Power banks, portable chargers and similar devices can act as ignition sources and potentially initiate on-board fires.”

The circular added that lithium batteries stored in overhead bins or inside carry-on baggage may be obscured or not readily monitored by passengers or crew, leading to delayed detection of smoke or fire and increasing the risk to flight safety.

Crew training to be strengthened

The DGCA has directed airlines to review their safety risk assessments related to lithium batteries carried by passengers and to strengthen crew training. Cabin crew must be able to recognise early warning signs such as overheating, smoke or flames, use appropriate firefighting equipment and understand the dangers of smoke inhalation.

Air operators and airport authorities have also been asked to reinforce safety risk management processes related to the carriage and handling of lithium batteries, rechargeable power banks and devices such as laptops, mobile phones and tablets, and to adopt suitable risk mitigation measures to prevent thermal runaway incidents.

Passengers also to pitch in

Passengers have been instructed to immediately inform cabin crew if any electronic device emits heat, smoke or an unusual odour. Airlines, in turn, must promptly report all lithium battery-related safety incidents to the DGCA.

The move follows several recent onboard fire incidents suspected to have been caused by lithium batteries. On October 19, a passenger’s power bank caught fire on a Dimapur-bound IndiGo flight while the aircraft was taxiing at Delhi airport. The fire was quickly extinguished by the cabin crew, and no injuries were reported.