Midair scare: Emirates Airline bans power banks on board

After a comprehensive safety review, Emirates is taking a firm and proactive stance to mitigate risk when it comes to power banks onboard,” the airline said in a statement on Friday, August 8.

The airline became the latest to ban the use of portable chargers known as power banks after a series of disasters.

“There has been a significant growth in customers using power banks in recent years, resulting in an increasing number of lithium battery-related incidents onboard flights across the wider aviation industry.”

In addition to restricting the use of power banks, Emirates passengers are also only allowed one, and it must be under 100 Wh.

The Dubai-based airline’s announcement came on the heels of a mid-air scare about a KLM flight from São Paulo, Brazil, heading for Amsterdam. A power bank caught fire on the transatlantic flight Tuesday night, quickly filling the cabin with smoke.

“Smoke was detected on board due to a burning power bank,” the airline announced following the incident. “The crew quickly extinguished the device, following established safety procedures.”

The flight was able to continue and land safely in Amsterdam.

A Delta flight in July had a similar fate. After a portable battery, the plane — which was heading to Fort Lauderdale from Atlanta — was forced to divert to Fort Myers, Florida.

“We appreciate the quick work and actions by our people to follow their training, and we apologize to our customers for the delay in their travels,” Delta Airlines said in a statement following the blaze.

While all airlines require personal power banks to be kept in cabins, prohibiting them from being in checked bags stowed in cargo, many are cracking down further as the dangers continue.

Southwest Airlines issued a rule in May that portable chargers must be kept visible when in use. Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa and Thai Air are among the growing list of airlines that have implemented restrictions.