China regulator cites safety risks behind ban on uncertified power banks

China's civil aviation regulator said that the recent ban on certain portable chargers aboard domestic flights was prompted by safety concerns, including a series of battery-related incidents in global aviation and the inherent risks posed by lithium-ion batteries contained in power banks, the People’s Daily reported on Wednesday.

According to an emergency notice issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) on Thursday, starting June 28, passengers are prohibited from bringing portable chargers on domestic flights if they lack the required 3C certification mark, have unclear labeling, or belong to recalled models or batches, in a move to ensure flight safety.

A spokesperson from the CAAC said that since the beginning of this year, multiple safety incidents in global aviation have been caused by passengers carrying power banks. 

On January 28, a fire broke out on a Busan Air flight after a power bank in a passenger's luggage ignited, and on March 20, a Hong Kong Airlines flight from Hangzhou to Hong Kong was forced to divert after a power bank caught fire in an overhead compartment, setting the luggage bin ablaze.

A total of 15 incidents involving power banks catching fire or emitting smoke have occurred on Chinese flights so far in 2025 alone. "These incidents pose serious threats to flight safety and passenger welfare," the spokesperson said.

The regulator stressed that lithium-ion batteries, the core component of most power banks, carry inherent safety risks. 

When exposed to high temperatures, pressure, or physical impact, the batteries can experience internal short circuits, generating intense heat. This may lead to thermal runaway, a chain reaction that causes fires or even explosions.

"Such events tend to escalate rapidly, are difficult to extinguish, and can result in significant damage in confined cabin environments," the regulator said.

The CAAC also cited recent findings from the State Administration for Market Regulation, which revealed alarming quality issues in the mobile power sector. Out of 149 power bank models randomly inspected in a national safety review, 65 failed to meet basic safety standards — a failure rate of 43.6 percent.

The market remains flooded with counterfeit or substandard power banks, some of which use poor-quality electrolytes or flawed battery separators that heighten the risk of leakage and internal faults. Additionally, many lack critical safety features such as overcharge, over-discharge, and short-circuit protection, increasing the likelihood of malfunction during use, according to CAAC.

“Bringing such defective power banks aboard flights greatly amplifies aviation safety risks,” the regulator warned.

The emergency notice was issued in line with China’s Regulations on Civil Aviation Security and the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air. The directive aligns with China’s mandatory product certification rules and targets lithium battery products deemed unsafe for air transport.

This reflects the civil aviation sector's "zero tolerance" approach to safety risks, the People’s Daily report said.