Japan's Ministry of Transport is preparing new guidelines that prohibit passengers from using and charging power banks inside aircraft cabins and limit carrying power banks to no more than two per person, following incidents of lithium-ion battery fires.
On 19 Feb 2026 GMT+7, NHK reported that Japan's Ministry of Transport plans to enforce strict measures banning passengers from using “power banks” or backup batteries inside cabins of flights arriving at and departing from airports in Japan, with enforcement expected as early as April.
The report states that this ban will be included in guidelines under Japan's Civil Aeronautics Act to address multiple past incidents where lithium-ion batteries caught fire or emitted smoke inside passenger aircraft cabins.
According to the revised guidelines, passengers will be prohibited from using power banks to charge smartphones or other electronic devices onboard, including charging power banks at seat power outlets. Additionally, the number of power banks allowed per passenger in the cabin will be limited to two to reduce risks of overheating or fire caused by lithium-ion batteries.
The report also mentions incidents such as one in January 2025 when a plane preparing to depart from Busan, South Korea, experienced a fire believed to have started from a power bank stored in the overhead compartment. Another incident occurred in September 2025 on an international Japan Airlines flight when a power bank emitted smoke while charging a smartphone inside the cabin.
Previously, some foreign airlines had already banned power bank use inside aircraft cabins, while the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is studying the possibility of issuing global regulations. This new measure reflects growing aviation safety concerns amid the widespread use of portable electronic devices among passengers worldwide.
Source: NHK