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The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
CAA warns UK travellers of cabin luggage rule that could be ‘catastrophic' if ignored
THE CAA has warned travellers of a cabin luggage rule that could be catastrophic if ignored. The UK Civil Aviation Authority, which maintains aviation safety in the UK, warned that holidaymakers who flout the rule could be at risk of causing "serious injury" to other travellers. Advertisement 1 Lithium batteries can present a risk of electrical fires on flights Credit: Getty Lithium batteries are found in any device with a rechargeable battery, such as power banks, headphones, phones and e-cigarettes. According to the CAA website: "Poorly manufactured, faulty and misused lithium batteries and those which have not been protected against short circuit can experience something called 'thermal runaway'. "This results in them getting so hot that they can catch fire, explode and ignite other nearby batteries. "If that were to happen on the flight deck it could significantly disrupt the operation of the aircraft and cause serious injury to flight crew. Advertisement read more in travel "Similarly, if such an event occurred in the passenger cabin it could cause serious injury to a passenger or crew member. "Accordingly, Controlled portable electronic devices (C-PEDs) are subject to safety design and operational standards." Back in January, a This led to a Advertisement Most read in Travel Other airlines have followed suit with slightly less restrictive guidelines, but still banning the use of power banks in the cabin, as well as banning them in overhead lockers. This includes Eva Air, Thai Airways and Air Asia as well as Tigerair and Starlux. Watch horror moment boxes of batteries suddenly explode sparking horrific factory inferno that killed 23 workers Last year, a fire broke out on an Asiana Airlines flight because of an overheating power bank. Advertisement Aerospace design lecturer Sonya Brown told Australian media: "When lithium-ion batteries start to deteriorate, they often expand, which is a key indicator that the battery should not be used anymore. "Having them with people waiting to be detected sooner is safer." It comes days after the US They must only be in hand luggage, not checked luggage. Advertisement But some rules have been eased - What do the new power bank rules mean for travellers? The Sun's Head of Travel Lisa Minot weighs in. AS staying connected becomes ever-more important, a ban on the handy gadget that can keep our devices topped up could be seen as a pain. But the catastrophic consequences of a fire on a plane are an obvious reason to make rules stricter. After countless incidents - and with so many counterfeit and faulty goods out there - it makes sense they are cracking down. But airlines do need to understand the need for us to be able to top up our devices in the air. With plans afoot to get rid of physical boarding passes in the coming years, making sure we're able to use our devices will become ever more essential. Adapting plane interiors to include USB ports will alleviate the need to top up on the go. And more needs to be done to highlight the new rules - and the dangers these devices can pose.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Scottish Sun
CAA warns UK travellers of cabin luggage rule that could be ‘catastrophic' if ignored
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE CAA has warned travellers of a cabin luggage rule that could be catastrophic if ignored. The UK Civil Aviation Authority, which maintains aviation safety in the UK, warned that holidaymakers who flout the rule could be at risk of causing "serious injury" to other travellers. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Lithium batteries can present a risk of electrical fires on flights Credit: Getty Lithium batteries are found in any device with a rechargeable battery, such as power banks, headphones, phones and e-cigarettes. According to the CAA website: "Poorly manufactured, faulty and misused lithium batteries and those which have not been protected against short circuit can experience something called 'thermal runaway'. "This results in them getting so hot that they can catch fire, explode and ignite other nearby batteries. "If that were to happen on the flight deck it could significantly disrupt the operation of the aircraft and cause serious injury to flight crew. "Similarly, if such an event occurred in the passenger cabin it could cause serious injury to a passenger or crew member. "Accordingly, Controlled portable electronic devices (C-PEDs) are subject to safety design and operational standards." Back in January, an Air Busan plane caught on fire due to a malfunctioning power bank, which led to the plane being decommissioned due to the extent of the damage. This led to a full ban of power banks being taken in hand luggage, the first of its kind in the world. Other airlines have followed suit with slightly less restrictive guidelines, but still banning the use of power banks in the cabin, as well as banning them in overhead lockers. This includes Eva Air, Thai Airways and Air Asia as well as Tigerair and Starlux. Watch horror moment boxes of batteries suddenly explode sparking horrific factory inferno that killed 23 workers Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines - who operate flights from the UK - have also introduced the strict power bank ban. Last year, a fire broke out on an Asiana Airlines flight because of an overheating power bank. Aerospace design lecturer Sonya Brown told Australian media: "When lithium-ion batteries start to deteriorate, they often expand, which is a key indicator that the battery should not be used anymore. "Having them with people waiting to be detected sooner is safer." It comes days after the US Transportation Security Administration updated its guidelines on checked luggage restrictions in regard to power banks. They must only be in hand luggage, not checked luggage. But some rules have been eased - 11 new items are allowed in hand luggage in the US including certain medications and food.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Southwest Airlines places new restrictions on portable chargers in carry-on
We've all been there: you're on a flight, and your cell phone battery is dwindling. You need your phone to show your boarding card, keep yourself entertained on board, and navigate your way to your destination. For many travelers, that's when portable battery packs or portable chargers can save the day. Now passengers flying with Southwest Airlines will be required to keep these kinds of chargers visible, if they are using them mid-flight — a move aimed at reducing the risk of batteries causing onboard fires. In what it called a 'first-in-industry' policy, the airline confirmed to CNN that the new rule would be introduced from May 28. 'Using portable charging devices while stored in a bag or overhead bin will no longer be permitted,' a spokesperson said via email. The new Southwest rules are also online on the airline's website: 'When a portable charger/power bank is used during a flight, it must be out of any baggage and remain in plain sight. Do not charge devices in the overhead bin.' 'Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of its customers and employees,' the airline's spokesperson added. Portable power banks are powered by lithium-ion batteries and more than 600 in-flight lithium battery incidents involving smoke, fire, or extreme heat have been recorded by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the past two decades. FAA data also says there have been 22 verified incidents so far in 2025. FAA rules currently prohibit passengers from carrying spare lithium-ion batteries, such as power banks, in their checked luggage. Southwest's change follows the tightening of rules on carrying lithium batteries on planes by several Asian airlines, including Thai Airways and Singapore Airlines. A portable power bank with a lithium battery was found to be a possible source of a fire that engulfed an Air Busan plane in January while it was waiting for takeoff, South Korea's transport ministry said in a press release. The press release cited the investigation committee and forensic services. Investigators found 'multiple electrical melting marks from the remains of a power bank,' the press release said. South Korea subsequently introduced nationwide restrictions, banning passengers from storing power banks and e-cigarettes in overhead cabins on all of the country's airlines. Travelers can store power banks either in the seat pocket or under the airline seat. Meanwhile, travelers on Thai Airways cannot use power banks on flights. Singapore Airlines also prohibits passengers from using or charging power banks in-flight. Lithium-ion batteries, which are used in power banks, are filled with materials which are highly reactive and highly flammable, according to Sonya Brown, senior lecturer in aerospace design at the University of New South Wales in Australia. 'Lithium batteries could act as an ignition source themselves, or as a source of fuel for a fire initiated elsewhere. The potential risk as an ignition source is increased when lithium batteries are damaged, swollen, include manufacturing defects, are over-charged or over-heated,' she told CNN earlier this year. Brown also said accidental contact with other battery terminals 'can cause unintended discharge' and suggests power banks and spare batteries be taped with a non-conductive material or packed separately to avoid coming into contact with other metals. Brown also recommends passengers inspect their power banks before traveling for any signs of swelling or external damage and consider disposing of them according to local regulations if there is anything that appears unusual. CNN's Kathleen Magramo, Gawon Bae, Kocha Olarn and Tom Booth contributed to this report.
