Lithium Battery Fire Risk Prompts Global Airline Crackdown on Power Banks

December 20, 2025 at 11:01 AM•2 min read

Airlines are implementing stricter rules for power banks and lithium batteries following a sharp increase in in-flight thermal runaway incidents.

Key Points

1The January 2025 Air Busan Airbus A321 fire, caused by a power bank in an overhead bin, injured 27 people and prompted immediate regulatory action globally.
2Incidents involving lithium batteries recorded by the US FAA have surged from less than 50 annually pre-pandemic to 80 verified incidents in 2025, occurring roughly every four days.
3South Korea and Southwest Airlines have implemented new rules banning power banks from overhead storage and prohibiting their charging via aircraft USB ports.
4The US FAA issued a safety alert recommending airlines ensure devices are visible and accessible to allow flight crews to quickly manage thermal runaway events.

Airlines worldwide are rapidly tightening restrictions on power banks and other lithium battery-powered devices following a significant increase in in-flight fire incidents. The catalyst for the recent regulatory surge was the January 2025 fire aboard an Air Busan Airbus A321 at Gimhae International Airport, where a power bank in an overhead bin ignited, leading to the destruction of the aircraft and injuries to 27 people during evacuation. Shortly after, South Korea’s transport ministry banned the storage of power banks and e-cigarettes in overhead bins and prohibited charging them using aircraft USB ports. Major carriers, including Southwest Airlines, have since introduced similar safety measures.

This global regulatory response addresses a severe trend in aviation safety. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recorded 80 verified lithium battery incidents in 2025, continuing the upward trajectory from 89 incidents in 2024. This frequency represents an average of one incident every four days, a sharp increase from the pre-pandemic rate of fewer than 50 incidents annually. The heightened risk is largely attributed to the proliferation of electronic devices and specific concerns over cheaply manufactured power banks, which often lack the advanced circuitry necessary to prevent overcharging and subsequent thermal runaway.

In September, the US FAA issued a safety alert recommending that airlines review their firefighting procedures and enhance passenger education, emphasizing that devices must be kept visible and accessible to allow rapid intervention by flight crews. Internationally, Australian airlines have also implemented new rules following recent incidents involving Virgin Australia and Qantas. While the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) reinforced the ban on spare lithium batteries, including power banks, from checked baggage in 2013, the continued occurrence of smoking devices suggests that more airlines will mandate stricter rules for carry-on items to mitigate the severe fire hazard.