Airlines tighten bans on power banks as lithium‑battery fire incidents rise

Lithium‑ion batteries in personal devices such as smartphones, power banks and electronic cigarettes are identified as the fastest‑growing safety threat on commercial flights. According to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, incidents involving overheating or fire have more than doubled since 2019, with roughly two confirmed events recorded each week in 2026.

Airlines worldwide are responding. American Airlines, Delta and Southwest have prohibited power banks from seat‑back pockets and tightened in‑flight usage rules. Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines have adopted similar measures. Regulators, including the FAA and the UK Civil Aviation Authority, have issued new guidance to crews and passengers. Flight Safety Foundation CEO Hassan Sakhi told the WSJ that "we see an increasing number of such incidents over the years," while UK CAA spokesperson Jonathan Nicolson said it is "one of the top, if not the top safety risk in the world right now." The United Kingdom recorded more than 100 overheating incidents last year.