You're in the middle of boarding your flight when suddenly everyone is being escorted off the plane. Smoke, the flight attendants say, is filling the plane. But why would there be a fire? What could have possibly started it?
You might not put much thought into it when packing your electronics and devices, but there's a reason why power banks and lithium-powered devices are strictly prohibited in checked luggage. The answer is a four-letter word: fire. While portable chargers have always been allowed in personal and carry-on bags, recent serious incidents have left airlines with no other choice. Here's what you need to know.
Why Airlines Are Worried
A couple of years ago, you might have been able to bring your power banks on board an aircraft and use them with no restrictions. That means if your electronics were running low on power, you could simply plug them in and charge them. Now, however, airline policies have gotten stricter—and for good reason.
There have been more and more reports of power banks igniting mid-flight. On July 21, 2025, a Virgin Australia flight had to issue a PAN PAN call when a passenger's bag in the overhead compartment caught on fire due to a power bank, emitting smoke into the cabin. On October 14, 2025, a Scandinavian Airlines plane had eight passengers sent to the hospital after a hand luggage started smoking. While rules can vary from country to country, as well as from airline to airline, the general consensus is that rechargeable lithium batteries must be 100 watt hours or lower. Passengers may also carry larger power banks if approved by the airline they're flying with.
What Does This Mean for You?
Having a fire on board a plane that's in mid-air is an extremely serious situation. Pilots often only have minutes to spare before toxic fumes suffocate passengers and flames damage important control lines and equipment. It's not always as simple as dousing the source with water or pulling a fire extinguisher.
Following recent incidents of power banks catching on fire, many airlines have issued a response: passengers must keep portable chargers and lithium-ion-powered devices not only in their carry-on luggage, but also stowed under the seat in front of them, in the seat pocket, or in their possession. This way, power banks are kept within sight and are easily accessible should any problems arise. Passengers are also warned not to use or charge their power banks during flight.
What constitutes a lithium battery-powered device? Your smartphone, Bluetooth headphones and earbuds (including AirPods), tablet, laptop, e-reader, smart watch, and almost anything that can be recharged is considered a lithium-powered electronic. If you have these packed in your carry-on luggage, make sure to take them out beforehand and avoid storing them in the overhead compartment.
While you're still allowed to charge your devices using the ports available at your seat, it's unclear whether airlines may introduce stricter rules later on. For now, the key is to make sure you follow existing rules carefully and understand changing policies so everyone can fly safely.
