Aviation / Why DGCA Banned MOBIKINS MK‑PB‑04 Powerbank on Indian Flights?

New Delhi, Oct 14: It began as a routine flight from Delhi to Chennai — until smoke and fire from a passenger’s powerbank forced an emergency diversion to Hyderabad.

The incident has now prompted India’s aviation regulator to clamp down, banning the specific MOBIKINS MK‑PB‑04 model from all flights across the country.

The aviation regulator issued the directive after an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Chennai was diverted to Hyderabad on Sunday when a fire linked to the powerbank was reported.

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In response, DGCA chief Vir Vikram Yadav instructed airlines to ensure the specific model is neither carried by passengers nor transported as cargo.

“Airlines must identify the affected device, prevent it from being brought on flights, and communicate the safety advisory to passengers through appropriate channels,” the order stated.

The restriction applies only to the MK‑PB‑04 model and does not amount to a blanket ban on all powerbanks. Passengers have been advised to check the model number of their portable batteries before travelling and avoid carrying the banned device.

The directive comes amid tighter safety norms for lithium‑ion batteries. Under DGCA’s dangerous goods guidelines, powerbanks and spare batteries are permitted only in hand baggage and cannot be stored in overhead compartments.

Passengers are also barred from using powerbanks to charge devices during flights, including through seat power outlets.

Airlines have been told to educate passengers about the rules, train cabin crew to handle battery‑related incidents, and report any lithium battery fires or malfunctions to the regulator. Passengers must immediately alert crew if a device overheats, emits smoke, or releases unusual odours.

Lithium‑ion batteries, widely used in portable electronics, can pose fire risks if damaged, defective, or improperly handled — a hazard considered particularly serious aboard aircraft.

(IANS)