Battery fires: DGCA bans a make of power bank on all flights to, from and within India

NEW DELHI: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has barred a particular power bank from being carried on aircraft in either passenger or any cargo flight to, from and within India. The decision comes “In view of the recent fire incident involving the MOBIKINS MK-PB-04 power bank, and considering the potential safety risks associated with it.”“… the travelling public and airlines are hereby advised to ensure that the MOBIKINS MK-PB-04 power bank is not carried or transported on board the aircraft, whether as passenger baggage (including checked-in and cabin baggage) or as cargo, on any flight to, from, or within India. Airlines are further advised to take appropriate measures to identify and prevent the carriage of the aforesaid power bank and to disseminate this safety advisory to the passengers through suitable communication channels,” says a recent order issued by DGCA chief Vir Vikram Yadav.Over the past one year, several countries including India have started restricting power bank usage on aircraft due to the possibility of the same catching fire. Apart from limiting number of power banks and their batter capacity, the same can neither be used to charge a personal electronic devices (PED) nor be charged via the in-seat power source on aircraft.The instance of PED and power bank fires has been on the rise globally. The biggest scare on this front remains airlines taking cabin bags from passengers at boarding gate to be kept in baggage hold of aircraft. These cabin bags may have PEDs, power banks and if a fire breaks out in them in the belly baggage hold, the same won't even get detected easily. The aviation ministry is aware of this issue and is working to resolve it.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.