Overview

• On August 5, a power bank in an overhead locker ignited aboard a KLM Boeing 777 from São Paulo to Amsterdam, filling the cabin with smoke before crew extinguished the device and landed safely with no injuries.
• Emirates will ban power bank use and onboard charging from October 1, 2025; each passenger may carry one unit under 100 Wh stored beneath seats or in seat pockets.
• FAA data record 641 verified lithium-battery incidents since 2006, including a record 89 in 2024 and 43 between January and July 2025, highlighting rising fire risks.
• Airlines and regulators globally have tightened rules on spare lithium batteries with measures ranging from bans on in-flight charging to visibility requirements and certification checks.
• Lithium-ion cells can enter thermal runaway when damaged or overcharged, triggering rapid fires and toxic gases that crews contain with smoke hoods and fire extinguishers.