Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 4: India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has introduced stricter in-flight safety norms regarding the use of power banks and other lithium battery-powered devices following a series of incidents worldwide.

Under the new rules, power banks can no longer be used to charge phones or gadgets during flights, including via aircraft seat power outlets. They are allowed only in hand luggage and cannot be stored in overhead compartments, where fires are harder to detect and control.

The DGCA highlighted that lithium battery fires are particularly dangerous because they can be self-sustaining and highly energetic, sometimes causing electronic devices to explode. Fires can be triggered by overheating, overcharging, crushing, internal short circuits, or poor manufacturing, and require special handling techniques.

Airlines have been directed to review their safety protocols, strengthen early detection measures, and train cabin crew to respond effectively to battery-related incidents. Passengers must immediately report any device emitting heat, smoke, or unusual odours, and airlines are required to promptly inform the DGCA of all such incidents.

Airports have also been asked to educate passengers on the safe handling of lithium batteries, with warnings displayed at terminals, check-in counters, security checkpoints, and boarding gates.

The advisory follows several recent incidents, including a power bank catching fire on an IndiGo flight in October 2025 and a blaze linked to a power bank at South Korea’s Gimhae International Airport in January 2026. Union Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu emphasised that the regulations are based on thorough research and international guidelines to ensure passenger and aircraft safety.