DGCA bans MOBIKINS power bank on Indian flights after IndiGo fire

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has banned the MOBIKINS MK-PB-04 power bank model on all flights operating to, from, and within India. This directive follows a fire incident on an IndiGo flight traveling from Delhi to Chennai, which forced an emergency landing at Hyderabad airport. No injuries were reported during the incident.

DGCA chief Vir Vikram Yadav has instructed airlines to ensure the specific model is not carried in passenger baggage or transported as cargo. The restriction is limited to the MOBIKINS MK-PB-04 and is not a blanket ban on all power banks. Airlines are required to communicate this safety advisory to passengers and identify the affected device to prevent it from being brought on board.

Existing regulations permit power banks and spare batteries only in cabin baggage, and passengers are prohibited from using them to charge devices during flights. Airlines must also train cabin crew to respond to lithium battery malfunctions and report such incidents to the regulator.