Southwest Airlines has announced that it would require that all portable devices are kept in sight during all flights while they are used. The new policy comes after a number of lithium-ion batteries have been shooting in the world in recent years.
The new policy will start on May 28 and will require all the passengers in the southwest to ensure that they do not have portable chargers, including supply banks and mobile phone battery loads, in air bins or even just inside a bag under the seat in front of them, while they are used.
“The use of portable load devices while being stored in an air bag or an air bac will no longer be authorized,” the airline in Gizmodo said in a statement sent by email. “Nothing is more important for the Southwest than the security of its customers and employees.”
The airline told Gizmodo that it was normal to keep your portable charger in your hand luggage if it is not connected to anything else. But any charger in active use, one of which can be connected to the phone in the form of a case, must be maintained visible for the entire flight.
The TSA already prohibits rechargeable and non -recordable lithium batteries for phones and laptops of checkered luggage. Hand luggage is very good, but Southwest Airlines will require that these chargers be outside all bags and visible when used for flight.
It is not clear if other American airlines will follow the example of Southwest, but other airlines from around the world have also repressed the lithium-ion batteries in order to combat fire risks. As noted by the Associated Press, Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways already prohibit the use of portable chargers on all flights. And Korean airlines also prohibit portable chargers from air bins.
The average American passenger brings four different rechargeable devices with them on a flight, according to the UL standard & engagement research group, the most common devices being smartphones (82%), laptops (41%), wireless headphones (39%) and tablets (36%). The most common incidents were caused by vaping devices, which represented 35% of all flight incident in 2023, while electricity banks represented 16% of all reported incidents.
“The flight teams are formed to recognize and respond to lithium battery fires in the cabin,” explains the FAA on its website. “Passengers must immediately inform the driving crew if their battery or its lithium apparatus overheated, developed, smoked or burned.”
Indeed. If you see something on fire on your flight, battery or otherwise, please inform the driving crew. It is generally a good idea.
