India to soon get new guidelines on carrying power banks on flights

After multiple lithium-ion fire cases on flights, India prepares to tighten power bank rules.

India may issue revised rules for carrying power banks on flights after a string of battery-related fire occurrences inside aircraft cabins, including an event on an IndiGo flight at Delhi airport where a passenger’s device caught fire during taxi. According to a report by TNN, officials have said that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is evaluating technical assessments and international precedents before drafting new instructions.

Lithium-ion cells have been linked to repeated smoke and fire incidents onboard aircraft. On Sunday, a Dimapur-bound IndiGo service reported smoke from a passenger’s power bank. A week prior, an Air China flight had to divert after a similar episode. These back-to-back events have prompted regulators to re-examine how such devices are handled inside cabins.

Several global carriers have tightened norms. Emirates, from October 1, has barred passengers from charging or using power banks mid-flight. Travellers may carry only one unit under 100Wh, but the device must remain unused. Singapore Airlines disallows charging through cabin USB ports and requires the power bank to stay in seat pockets or under-seat baggage, not overhead bins.

People familiar with the review said the DGCA is studying limits on quantity, mandates for visible capacity ratings, restrictions on in-flight charging, and fixed placement rules for storage. India may also mirror overseas carriers by prohibiting active use during flight. The regulator is expected to weigh operational practicality and passenger dependence on electronics against the need to reduce fire risk before finalising a new advisory.