AFTER a power bank exploded on a Thai AirAsia flight from Don Mueang Airport to Nakhon Si Thammarat yesterday (Feb. 24) and fortunately none of the 186 passengers and crew were harmed with the airplane landing safely at the destination, this airport today published conditions for carrying spare batteries, with power banks being considered one of them, on board on its Facebook page, Thai Rath newspaper said.
IATA considers power banks to be a type of stand-alone battery, which must be classified as UN3480 (lithium ion) or UN3090 (lithium metal), as appropriate.
The conditions for only taking them in carry-on baggage not checked-in baggage are as follows:
– Battery capacity not exceeding 20,000 mAh (less than 100 Wh) maximum 20 pieces per person. Permission from the airline is required to carry more than than this on a flight;
– Battery capacity of 20,000 mAh to 32,000 mAh (100 to 160 Wh) not more than two pieces per person;
– It is forbidden to carry batteries with over 32,000 mAh (over 160 Wh) capacity on any flight at all.
That power banks and other types of batteries are not allowed to be stored in the belly of an aircraft while flying is because those made from lithium ion may build up heat leading to an explosion and ensuing fire.
If an explosion and fire occurs within the cabin it would be seen and the crew and passengers would be able to put it out.
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Top and Front Page: Power banks being used. Photos: Thai Rath
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