New Airline Rule Keep Power Banks On You Not In Your Luggage

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A lithium-ion battery stored in an overhead compartment is suspected of being the cause of a cabin fire on an aircraft at Busan airport on Jan 28. (Envato Elements pic)
PETALING JAYA: Airline passengers are to be told to carry their power banks on their person and avoid storing them in carry-on baggage in overhead compartments.
A new Malaysian directive on lithium-ion batteries has been issued to airlines following a cabin fire in Korea.
The directive calls on airlines to remind passengers of the regulations, which currently prohibit power banks from being stored in check-in luggage, but require passengers to carry them in their cabin baggage.
However, the new directive issued on March 4 orders airlines to advise passengers to avoid storing power banks in their carry-on baggage in overhead bins, and instead have them on their person.
Earlier today, Thai national carrier Thai Airways International announced a ban on the use of power banks on board its aircraft from March 15.
South Korea also introduced tighter regulations on March 1, requiring passengers to have power banks and e-cigarettes on their person instead of storing them in the overhead compartment. They must either keep their power banks in protective pouches or transparent plastic bags, or cover the connectors with insulating tape.
Eva Air of Taiwan has also banned the use and charging of power banks and spare batteries while in flight.
Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia CEO Norazman Mahmud said the new Malaysian directive “aligns with industry best practices and recommendations following the recent incident”.
He said cabin crew should remain vigilant for potential battery hazards and be trained to respond to battery fires. Airlines should ensure fire containment bags and fire extinguishing equipment for lithium-ion batteries are readily available on board.
The rules come in the wake of a cabin fire on board a South Korean aircraft on Jan 28, which caused all 176 passengers and crew to be evacuated before it took off on a flight to Hong Kong.
A lithium-ion battery stored in an overhead bin is suspected to have started the fire. However, the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Norazam said airlines must ensure there is greater awareness of the safety measures and that these measures should be strictly enforced.
“Recent incidents highlight ongoing challenges in passenger compliance and awareness. Many travellers either fail to declare these items or misunderstand the storage requirements, increasing the risk of in-flight emergencies,” he said. - FMT

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