Airlines are moving quickly to make flights safer after a power bank caught fire on a South Korean Air Busan aircraft in January 2025. Germany’s Lufthansa is leading Europe with new restrictions aimed at preventing similar incidents.
Stricter In-Flight Guidelines
Lufthansa now prohibits passengers from using power banks to charge devices during flights or through seatback entertainment systems. While passengers can still bring batteries in cabin luggage, storing them in overhead compartments is no longer allowed. Travelers must keep power banks on their person or under the seat in hand luggage.
Size and Quantity Limits
The airline has capped power banks at 100 watt hours, roughly 27,000 mAh. Passengers who want to carry larger batteries must notify Lufthansa in advance and get approval, or risk having their devices confiscated and destroyed. Each passenger is limited to two power banks per flight. These rules apply to all Lufthansa-operated flights and affiliated carriers, including Swiss, Eurowings, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Edelweiss, Discover, and Air Dolomiti.
Learning From a Dangerous Incident
The policy follows the January 2025 fire, which occurred while the Airbus A321 was still on the ground. A power bank in an overhead compartment ignited, causing flames to engulf the fuselage within minutes. Twenty-seven people were injured, but all passengers safely evacuated using emergency slides.
The incident prompted aviation authorities worldwide to review safety standards for lithium batteries, and airlines are now acting to reduce the risk of fires and protect passengers on every flight.
