Airlines are taking new precautions to prevent battery-related fires in the sky, with Germany’s Lufthansa leading the way in Europe. The move comes after a power bank caught fire in the overhead compartment of a South Korean Air Busan flight in January 2025, injuring 27 passengers and destroying the aircraft.
Stricter Rules for Onboard Batteries
Lufthansa has announced that passengers can no longer charge devices using power banks during flights, nor connect them to seatback entertainment systems. While power banks remain allowed in cabin luggage, storing them in overhead bins is now prohibited. Instead, passengers must keep them on their person or under the seat in hand luggage.
The airline emphasizes that checked luggage restrictions remain in place: power banks are still banned in the hold. Travelers are encouraged to fully charge devices before boarding or use the aircraft’s built-in USB ports.
Limits on Size and Quantity
New safety rules also cap battery size at 100 watt hours, around 27,000 milliampere-hours. Passengers wishing to bring larger batteries must notify the airline and receive approval in advance. Failure to do so could result in confiscation and destruction of the device.
Additionally, travelers are restricted to carrying a maximum of two power banks per flight. Lufthansa says these changes follow updated guidance from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and apply to all flights operated by the Lufthansa Group, including Swiss, Eurowings, Austrian Airlines, Discover, Brussels Airlines, Edelweiss, and Air Dolomiti.
A Fire That Sparked Global Safety Concerns
The policy comes after the January 2025 Air Busan incident, where a power bank ignited while the Airbus A321 was still on the ground. Flames engulfed the fuselage in minutes, but all passengers managed to evacuate using emergency slides. Investigators confirmed that the fire was caused by the damaged battery.
The incident prompted aviation authorities worldwide to reconsider safety measures for lithium batteries, with airlines increasingly moving to tighten regulations and reduce the risk of onboard fires.
