According to reports from the Lianhe Zaobao, Singapore Airlines announced on Wednesday (March 12) that, starting from April 1, passengers will be prohibited from using power banks during flights or charging them via the in-flight USB ports.
Singapore Airlines stated that the company complies with the International Air Transport Association's regulations regarding the transport of dangerous goods, which classify portable chargers as lithium batteries. Therefore, all passengers on Singapore Airlines flights must carry portable chargers with them and may not check them in. Currently, passengers are allowed to carry a power bank with a capacity of up to 100Wh, but if they wish to carry one with a capacity between 100Wh and 160Wh, prior approval from the airline is required.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore indicated that it regularly reviews and updates relevant regulations to address emerging risks and ensure the highest safety standards.
On Jan. 28 of this year, a Busan Air flight scheduled to depart from Gimhae Airport in Busan to Hong Kong experienced sparking from a power bank in the overhead compartment before takeoff, leading to a fire at the rear of the aircraft, requiring an emergency evacuation of the 176 people on board. On Feb. 24, a Batik Air Malaysia flight reportedly caught fire and smoked 30 minutes before landing due to an incident with a power bank. Fortunately, passengers and crew responded calmly, and the fire was quickly extinguished.
As a result of these spontaneous combustion incidents involving a power bank, several airlines have announced bans on passengers using or charging portable chargers on aircraft.
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