Briefly: Rechargeable batteries are so ubiquitous that passenger airplanes often carry a whole bunch per flight, however latest incidents have highlighted the hazard they will current when uncovered to excessive circumstances. Airways have begun taking extra precautions however have not agreed on frequent requirements, making a doubtlessly complicated state of affairs for frequent worldwide fliers.
Airways in a number of Asian nations just lately launched new guidelines relating to rechargeable batteries after a fireplace destroyed an plane in South Korea. Every airline responded otherwise, highlighting the absence of shared requirements.
Since March 1, all South Korean airways have required passengers to maintain energy banks and e-cigarettes with them and never in overhead compartments. Moreover, passengers cannot cost batteries on board, should carry them in clear plastic luggage, are restricted to 5 100Wh batteries, and can’t carry batteries exceeding 160Wh.
The modifications are supposed to allay public issues following a January incident wherein a fireplace engulfed an Air Busan aircraft at Incheon Worldwide Airport. All 170 passengers safely evacuated the flight, however the plane was totaled. Whereas no proof definitively hyperlinks the hearth to a battery, an investigation indicated that it began in an overhead compartment.
Flights usually include a whole bunch of rechargeable batteries as a result of most vacationers carry at the very least one digital system containing them. Only one battery affected by a defect or being crushed could cause smoke or a fireplace, endangering all the flight. Though passengers can evacuate a aircraft on the bottom, crews should often reply to in-flight incidents by extinguishing fires, spraying liquid on batteries, and storing them in containers.
On the identical day the brand new South Korean rules went into pressure, Taiwanese airways EVA Air and China Airways banned energy banks on their planes, however each nonetheless allow batteries in overhead compartments. Thai Airways can even ban energy banks beginning March 15.
📢 Essential Announcement | Thai Airways
Following incidents of in-flight fires on worldwide airways, suspected to be linked to energy financial institution utilization, Thai Airways Worldwide Public Firm Restricted has launched new security measures.
Beginning March 15, 2025, the usage of energy… pic.twitter.com/O8YlhjtS8N
– Thai Airways (@ThaiAirways) March 7, 2025
Though rechargeable batteries have been frequent on airplanes for years, incidents involving them have change into extra frequent. Final July, a laptop computer precipitated a fireplace aboard an American Airways flight in San Francisco, forcing passengers to evacuate and inflicting accidents.
Laptops on planes are already restricted handy baggage solely and may’t have batteries exceeding 100Wh, which has impacted manufacturing traits. Lithium-ion batteries have additionally lengthy been banned from passenger aircraft cargo holds and should stay beneath 30 % cost on cargo planes.
