Airlines tighten rules on lithium battery risks in cabins

Airlines are tightening restrictions on lithium-ion batteries carried by passengers, citing repeated incidents of overheating, smoke and fire at airports and on board aircraft. Industry officials said the devices, used in mobile phones, power banks and portable electronics, have become a growing safety concern in aviation. Global research indicates that incidents linked to lithium batteries are now occurring roughly twice a week, with forgotten devices and uncontrolled battery heating listed as the leading causes. Recent incidents include an Air Busan plane in South Korea rendered unusable in January 2025 after a power bank caught fire in the cabin, and a Hong Kong Airlines flight diverted in March 2025 after a power bank overheated and ignited. In July of the same year, a power bank inside a bag in an overhead bin caught fire on a Virgin Australia aircraft; the crew and passengers contained the blaze before a safe landing. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has recorded 51 documented incidents as of July 15, according to the source, and has identified battery safety as a priority issue. Airlines are responding by tightening cabin rules on power banks and other lithium-ion devices, though no further regulatory details were immediately available.