Tokyo: Japan is moving toward tightening aviation safety rules by considering a ban on the use of power banks during flights, following a series of incidents in which lithium batteries emitted smoke or caught fire onboard aircraft.

 

According to a report by NHK, the country’s transport ministry has notified domestic airlines that the proposed rule could come into effect from April. The ban would prohibit passengers from using portable batteries to charge electronic devices during flights, as well as charging the power banks themselves using in-flight power outlets.

 

However, passengers will still be permitted to carry up to two power banks in their cabin baggage. Officials clarified that the measure is currently under discussion, and a final policy decision is expected by late March.

 

A senior official at the Civil Aviation Bureau told The Japan Times that the government is carefully reviewing safety data before issuing formal guidelines.

 

Previous Safety Measures

 

Less than a year ago, Japan introduced regulations requiring passengers to keep external batteries within sight while onboard. Authorities have already banned the storage of power banks in checked luggage due to fire risks associated with lithium-ion batteries.

 

Under existing international aviation rules, batteries rated at 160 watt-hours or higher are prohibited from both checked and carry-on baggage.

 

Global Safety Concerns

 

The move comes amid growing global concerns over portable battery incidents in aircraft cabins.

 

In October last year, an Air China flight from Hangzhou to Incheon made an emergency landing in Shanghai after a fire broke out in an overhead compartment. The airline later confirmed that a lithium battery in a passenger’s carry-on luggage caused the blaze.

In a separate incident the same month, a portable battery emitted smoke onboard an All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight from Naha to Tokyo. Crew members successfully extinguished the smoke, and the aircraft continued safely to its destination.

 

Aviation Safety First

Aviation authorities worldwide have increasingly tightened restrictions on lithium batteries due to their potential fire hazards. Japan’s proposed in-flight usage ban signals a further step toward enhancing passenger safety while balancing convenience for travelers.