Recently a scary incident happened in an Indigo flight going from Delhi to Chennai. The plane was flying at an altitude of about 35,000 feet when a passenger’s power bank kept in the overhead baggage compartment suddenly caught fire. The passengers got scared after seeing the smoke and flames. The cabin crew immediately extinguished the fire and the pilot made an emergency landing in Hyderabad. All passengers remained safe, but this incident was once again a reminder of how dangerous power banks can be in an airplane.
Many people ask why a power bank explodes or catches fire at an altitude of 40,000 feet. Let us understand the reason for this and the necessary precautions.
The power bank contains a lithium-ion battery. This battery stores a lot of energy in a small space. Under normal circumstances it works fine, but sometimes if some small fault occurs inside, the temperature becomes uncontrollable. This is called thermal runaway. The battery itself heats up, gas is formed and then smoke, fire or explosion may occur.
At altitude the air pressure inside the aircraft is less than on the ground. In low pressure the gases formed inside the battery expand more. If the battery already has a small crack, short circuit or manufacturing defect, these gases can tear the case and cause a fire.
- Often the reason is cheap or fake power banks. The security circuits in these are weak.
- Sometimes the battery may malfunction due to falling, pressing or short circuit caused by a key or coin.
- Overcharging or old batteries also increase the risk.
- By keeping it in the overhead bin in the plane, smoke becomes visible late and the risk of fire spreading increases.
Caution is also necessary
To avoid this danger, some easy precautions are necessary. Always keep power banks in hand luggage, never in check-in baggage. Many airlines also prohibit keeping it in the overhead compartment, so keep it under or near the seat.
Buy only good brand and BIS certified power banks. Keep the capacity less than 100 watt-hours. Do not charge the phone from the power bank during the flight, even if allowed, be careful.
If the battery seems swollen, dented or hot, do not take it on a flight. Keep away from metal objects so that short circuit does not occur.
Remember, power bank provides convenience but carelessness can prove fatal. A small mistake can turn into a big danger.
