Sep 28, 2026 · 6:51
Why Airlines Treat Your Power Bank Differently From Your Phone
Your phone has a lithium battery. So does your laptop. So why are airlines so worried about your power bank?
On 26 September 2026, a passenger's power bank caught fire aboard Lufthansa flight LH1170 from Frankfurt to Lisbon. The crew contained it in a lithium safety bag – and the Airbus A321 still diverted to Lyon. In this video we explain thermal runaway, why power banks belong in your carry-on and not in your checked suitcase, how to read the watt-hour rating, and what changed in the 2026 rules.
0:58In under a minute
Why Your Power Bank Can Divert an Entire Plane
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Sources & further reading (7)
- Lufthansa Group – Power banks on board: updated regulations from 15 January 2026
https://business.lufthansagroup.com/xx/en/program/experts/news/power-banks-on-board--updated-regulations-from-january-2026 - IATA – Safe Travel with Lithium Batteries
https://www.iata.org/en/youandiata/travelers/batteries/ - IATA – Passengers Travelling with Lithium Batteries, Guidance Document (revised for the 2026 regulations)
https://www.iata.org/contentassets/6fea26dd84d24b26a7a1fd5788561d6e/passengers_travelling_with_lithium_batteries.pdf - ICAO – New power bank restrictions will safeguard international aviation (in force since 27 March 2026)
https://www.icao.int/news/new-power-bank-restrictions-will-safeguard-international-aviation - FAA – Airline Passengers and Batteries
https://www.faa.gov/hazmat/packsafe/airline-passengers-and-batteries - FAA – PackSafe: Lithium Batteries (thermal runaway)
https://www.faa.gov/hazmat/packsafe/lithium-batteries - Incident report (AFP) – Lufthansa flight diverted after passenger's battery catches fire, 27 September 2026
https://www.cp24.com/news/world/2026/09/27/lufthansa-flight-diverted-after-passengers-battery-catches-fire/