Overview

• On August 7, a power bank ignited in an overhead locker on KLM Flight KL792 from São Paulo to Amsterdam, filling the cabin with smoke before crew extinguished it and landed safely with no injuries
• Lithium-ion batteries can undergo thermal runaway, emitting toxic gases and sustaining fierce fires that are difficult to control aboard aircraft
• Beginning October 1, 2025, Emirates will prohibit passengers from charging or using power banks in cabins, though one device under 100 Wh may still be carried under the seat
• The ban follows similar measures by Asian carriers, the UK Civil Aviation Authority and China’s CAAC as regulators and airlines tighten lithium battery protocols
• Guidelines from the International Air Transport Association and data from the FAA on rising battery incidents have driven rules banning such items from checked baggage and mandating cabin visibility and storage limits