The new policy reportedly stems from a number of in-flight incidents in which these devices have caught fire or started smoking
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NEED TO KNOW
- Japan is planning to ban the use of power banks on flights starting in April, according to multiple reports
- The new policy stems from a number of in-flight incidents in which these devices have caught fire or started smoking
- In the U.S., there were 95 verified lithium battery incidents that occurred mid-air last year, according to the FAA
Japan is set to ban the use of power banks on flights this spring amid fire safety concerns, according to multiple reports.
The country’s transport ministry has reportedly notified domestic airlines that the use of portable phone chargers on planes will be prohibited starting in April, according to NHK World Japan and Japan Today.
Both outlets report the change stems from a series of incidents involving lithium batteries that caught fire or started smoking mid-flight.
In addition to the ban, the new policy will reportedly prohibit passengers from charging the power banks at their seat’s power outlets. Passengers will also only be allowed to bring two portable chargers on board, the outlets report.
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Per Japan Today, mobile batteries are only allowed in carry-on bags and are strictly prohibited in checked bags, similar to U.S. regulations outlined by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The reported policy change comes after Japan’s transport ministry already strengthened its rules this past summer by advising travelers to keep power banks within reach during flights instead of stowing them in the overheard compartments, according to the outlet.
In the U.S. last year. there were 95 verified lithium battery incidents on flights involving smoke, fire or extreme heat The previous year had 89 incidents, and there have already been five verified incidents in 2026 as of Feb. 15, according to the FAA.
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The agency states these incidents can occur due to the overheating power banks and similar devices experience due to a process called thermal runaway.
“Thermal runaway can occur without warning as a result of various factors, including if the battery is damaged, overheated, exposed to water, overcharged, or improperly packed,” the FAA writes on their website. “Thermal runaway can also occur on its own due to manufacturing defects.”
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Most recently, PEOPLE reported that an Alaska Airlines plane was forced to make an emergency landing on Sunday, Feb. 22 after a passenger’s phone and battery pack caught fire inside the cabin.
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The incident, which occurred on Alaska Airlines flight 2117 operated by regional airline Horizon Air, departed from Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport and was heading for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Alaska Airlines previously confirmed to PEOPLE that the passenger whose devices overheated received medical attention at the gate. The airline added that the phone and power bank were placed into a containment bag while the aircraft was preparing to land.
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