Japan bans power banks' use in airplanes from April: Report

ISTANBUL

Japan will ban the use of power banks in airplanes beginning in April due to incidents in which they caught fire during flights, according to a report from Kyodo News on Wednesday.

Tokyo's Transport Ministry has notified airlines of the precaution, it said, citing a source familiar with the matter.

The ban will also encompass both using power banks to charge smartphones and charging them via onboard power outlets.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has decided to enhance precautions after urging travelers since July not to stow power banks in overhead compartments and to keep them within reach during flights.

Lithium-ion batteries, commonly used in power banks, can ignite upon physical impact or due to gradual degradation, according to the ministry.

Currently, power banks are prohibited in checked baggage, while the number and capacity permitted in carry-on luggage are also restricted.

The measure comes after a fire on a low-cost carrier operated by Air Busan in January last year that is believed to have sparked a fire.