South Korea's new lithium battery rules on planes highlight increasing risk in aviation
SEOUL, South Korea - South Korea tightened rules on carrying lithium batteries on planes from Saturday, highlighting a growing risk to flights worldwide from the batteries used in cellphones and e-cigarettes which can malfunction to produce smoke, fire or extreme heat, Lisa Barrington writes for Reuters.
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The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
4 March 2025 - Starting Saturday, South Korean airlines will require passengers to carry power banks and e-cigarettes on their person rather than store them in overhead bins. Charging devices on board is prohibited, and battery quantity and power limits will be enforced. Passengers may carry up to five 100-watt-hour batteries, while those over 160 watt-hours are banned. Batteries must also be stored in clear plastic bags.
Lithium-ion and lithium metal batteries, found in common electronic devices, can overheat due to manufacturing defects or damage, potentially causing fires or explosions.
Reuters reports that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration recorded three incidents of overheating lithium batteries on planes every two weeks last year, compared to nearly one per week in 2018. Aviation authorities have long recognized lithium batteries as a safety risk, leading to stricter regulations.
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Jamie Whitney, Senior Editor
Military + Aerospace Electronics
