Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has issued a new rule banning the use and charging of power banks during flights following multiple battery fire incidents. Violators face imprisonment.
On 24 April 2026, NHK News reported that Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced a ban on using power banks, or portable battery packs, on flights departing from and arriving at airports in Japan. This rule took effect last Friday after several incidents involving lithium-ion batteries catching fire or emitting smoke inside passenger cabins, posing safety risks to passengers and crew.
According to the report, under the new regulation, passengers are prohibited from using power banks to charge devices during flights and from charging the power banks themselves via onboard power outlets. Additionally, the number of power banks allowed per passenger is limited to two. Violators may face up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 1 million yen, approximately 150,000 baht.
At Tokyo's Haneda Airport, several airlines have posted signs informing passengers of the new rules. Some passengers acknowledged that while it is inconvenient not to be able to charge devices during flight, they understand the measure is for safety.
Source: NHK