Malaysia’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAM) has announced new regulations regarding power banks on flights. Passengers are no longer allowed to place power banks in the overhead cabin. Instead, they must be carried on their person at all times.
Additionally, the use of power banks is not allowed during takeoff and landing.
Both Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and AirAsia have implemented these rules, aligning with CAAM’s directives. Passengers should also ensure their power banks meet airline specifications, including capacity limits.
Currently, AirAsia and Thai Airways prohibit power banks exceeding 100Wh or 20,000mAh. Some airlines even restrict fully charged power banks from being carried onboard and prohibit their use during flights.
It has long been established that power banks cannot be placed in checked luggage. However, due to recent incidents, airlines worldwide are reinforcing safety measures.
For example, in late February, a flight from Johor Bahru to Bangkok experienced an emergency when smoke emerged from the overhead compartment 30 minutes before landing. The source was later identified as a power bank inside a backpack. Fortunately, no serious damage occurred.
Similarly, on January 28, a Busan Air flight to Hong Kong faced a fire onboard, suspected to be caused by a power bank or another electronic device. Thankfully, all 176 passengers were safely evacuated.
Passengers should stay informed and comply with these updated regulations for safer flights.
