Southwest Airlines restricts use of portable chargers mid-flight
May 23, 2025
To address safety concerns, passengers travelling with Southwest Airlines are being told to keep power banks in plain view when being used to charge mobile devices during the flight.
Southwest Airlines is the first US carrier to place restrictions on passengers carrying portable chargers due to them being a potential fire risk. “Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of its customers, and employees,” a statement from the airline reads.
The safety policy will be introduced on 28 May when Southwest Airlines says customers will be required to keep portable charging devices visible while in use during flight. “Using portable devices while stored in a bag or overhead bin will no longer be permitted,” a spokesperson for Southwest said.
What is the risk?
Portable power banks are powered by lithium-ion batteries, a hazardous material which the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) states, “can be very dangerous when transported by air.”
Overheating, puncturing or manufacturing defects on lithium batteries can lead to thermal runway – a condition where a battery overheats uncontrollably, potentially resulting in fire or explosions. In the confined space of an aircraft any incident involving fire or smoke is particularly dangerous.
Over 600 verified in-flight lithium battery incidents involving smoke, fire or extreme heat have been recorded by the FAA between March 2006 and 27 April 2025. More than a third of these incidents involved portable battery packs. This year alone more than 20 verified incidents have been recorded with a further 11 pending verification.
“In the rare event a lithium battery overheats or catches fire, quick access is critical. Keeping power banks in plain sight allows for faster intervention and helps protect everyone onboard,” the Southwest spokesperson said.
Airlines already restricting the use of power banks mid-flight
In January, reports following a fire onboard an Air Busan aircraft which was preparing for departure at Gimhae International Airport, found “multiple electrical melting marks from the remains of a power bank.”
South Korea subsequently prohibited carry-on luggage containing portable chargers and e-cigarettes from being stored in overhead bins. Multiple Asian carriers have since followed suit, including Thai Airways, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Scoot, AirAsia, China Airlines and EVA Air. Earlier this year they all introduced rules prohibiting the use of power banks while in flight. Many of these carriers also stipulate these devices must be kept on view, such as in the seat pocket, so any malfunction can be rapidly identified and dealt with.
In April an American Airlines flight from Indianapolis to Los Angeles was diverted to Chicago after a passenger’s portable charger caught fire and had to be extinguished by cabin crew.
