This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. For an explanation of our Advertising Disclosure, visit this page.
I used to be so afraid of flying that I didn’t get on a plane for three years. Fortunately, I overcame it, though I still get nervous now and then—especially when we go through severe turbulence (which is rare) or when flying to Hawaii or other destinations over vast oceans with no islands in between to land on in case, God forbid, something goes wrong.
Lately, my fear has intensified with the significant rise in lithium battery fires inflight. The latest incident occurred today when a power bank in a passenger’s bag in the overhead compartment caught fire. See the video below.
View this post on Instagram
The Hong Kong Airlines Airbus A320, carrying 160 passengers onboard, was traveling from Hangzhou, China, to Hong Kong when it was forced to make an emergency landing in Fuzhou, China. The crew acted quickly, using bottled water and juices to extinguish the fire. However, this can actually make things worse by causing the fire to spread or even explode.
Lithium-ion batteries or power banks should be extinguished with a Class D fire extinguisher, but if one isn’t available, a Class ABC fire extinguisher can be used instead.
In the rare case there is no fire extinguisher onboard, the best alternative is to use sand, baking soda, or a fire blanket to help put out the flames and prevent the fire from spreading.
Lithium-ion batteries and power banks have been a growing concern for airlines because they can catch fire. In the past year, I’ve written about several high-profile incidents, including VIDEO: Former American Idol Star’s Backpack Catches Fire on JetBlue Flight and American Airlines plane evacuated after smoke fills the cabin in intense incident.
This is why every check-in agent asks if you packed a lithium-ion battery in your checked luggage. They’re prohibited for this specific reason—because it’s nearly impossible to put out a fire if it’s in the cargo hold.
I’ve also shared these tips: What Every Savvy Traveler Packs When They Travel and Why It’s Not Great to Check Lithium-ion Batteries and The Real Reasons Flight Attendants Tell Passengers to Hold on to Their Phones During Takeoff and Landing.
We’re starting to see a lot of airlines in Asia change their policies, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this spreads globally. According to the Daily Mail, “The airline announced that, starting April 1, 2025, its customers—and those on its low-cost subsidiary Scoot—will not be allowed to charge portable power banks via onboard USB ports or use them to charge personal devices.”
Portable power banks are one of the most popular tech gadgets for frequent travelers, and flight attendants usually don’t leave home without them since they ensure your phone won’t run out of juice while on the go.
One of the scariest things that happened to me was a couple of years ago when I almost inadvertently caused a fire on my Hawaiian Airlines flight from Honolulu to Los Angeles. I was working on my HP laptop and noticed the bottom cover had popped out of one of its base screws. Turns out, my battery was swelling, and I later learned that when this happens, it’s time to replace the battery immediately—and definitely don’t fly with it. Lesson learned.
