The DGCA said the widespread usage of lithium batteries in various rechargeable devices has led to an increase in carriage of lithium batteries by air
New Delhi: Power banks and spare batteries can be carried only in hand baggage during air travel and these shall not be placed in overhead bins of the aircraft. In the wake of incidents relating to fire due to power banks, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked all airlines and airport operators to ensure safety related to fire and explosion due to power banks and batteries and educate passengers that using or charging power banks and laptops is not allowed during flight.
The DGCA order added that power banks and spare batteries shall not be placed in overhead bins because a fire may not be visible due to storage away from passenger and crew visibility. Passengers need to immediately inform cabin crew if any device emits heat, smoke, or an unusual odor. The airlines and airport operators need to report all safety issues and occurrences related to lithium battery incidents to the DGCA immediately.
The DGCA said the widespread usage of lithium batteries in various rechargeable devices has led to an increase in carriage of lithium batteries by air. Power banks, portable chargers, and similar devices containing lithium batteries can act as ignition sources and potentially initiate on-board fires.
“Lithium batteries placed in overhead stowage bins or within carry-on baggage may be obscured, difficult to access, or not readily monitored by passengers or crewmembers. This may result in delayed detection of smoke or fire and response actions, increasing the potential hazard to flight safety,” the DGCA order said.
“This circular is issued to all air operators and airport operators to review and reinforce their safety risk management processes pertaining to the carriage and handling of lithium batteries, rechargeable lithium batteries (power banks, etc.), and rechargeable devices containing lithium batteries (laptops, cell phones, tablets, etc.) and adopt appropriate risk mitigation strategies to minimise lithium batteries thermal runaway events. Therefore, air operators and airport operators are advised to take.
