Several Accidents Prompt Japan to Ban Power Banks on Aircraft from April 2026

The Japanese government has issued new rules for air travelers. From mid-April 2026, power banks may not be used on board aircraft. Each passenger is allowed to carry up to two power banks with a maximum capacity of 160Wh, as reported by Kyodo News on Tuesday 3 March 2026. This includes spare batteries for cameras and other devices with a capacity not exceeding 100Wh. Portable chargers, i.e., power banks with a capacity above 160Wh, are prohibited from being brought into the cabin. This policy forms part of new guidelines under Japan’s Civil Aviation Act. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has notified domestic airlines of the new rules, according to NHK. Previously, several foreign airlines had already implemented bans on using power banks in cabins. Incidents of fires on planes caused by power banks occurred during 2025 on several flights. For example, a plane preparing to take off from Busan, South Korea, in January 2025 is believed to have been caused by a mobile phone battery in the overhead cabin. Other incidents also occurred on international flights by Japan Airlines in September, causing a mobile phone battery to emit smoke while charging a phone. The airline said the fire was caused by a lithium battery in a passenger’s cabin baggage. In the same month, a portable battery emitted smoke on an ANA flight from Naha to Tokyo. The fire was extinguished and the flight continued to its destination, according to The Japan Times.