DGCA Bans MOBIKINS MK-PB-04 Powerbank On Flights After Reported In-Flight Fire Incident

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has banned the MOBIKINS MK-PB-04 powerbank on flights to, from and within India.

The regulator issued the order after a fire involving the device forced an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Chennai to divert to Hyderabad on Sunday.

DGCA chief Vir Vikram Yadav directed airlines to stop passengers from carrying the model and prohibit its transport as cargo. Airlines must identify the device, enforce the restriction and circulate the safety advisory.

The ban applies only to the specified model, not all powerbanks. The DGCA has urged passengers to check their device’s model number before travelling.

Existing aviation rules require passengers to carry powerbanks and spare batteries in hand baggage. Passengers cannot store these items in overhead compartments.

The DGCA has further barred passengers from using powerbanks to charge phones or other electronic devices during flights, including through seat power outlets.

Airlines must inform passengers about battery safety rules and train cabin crew to handle related incidents. They must report lithium-battery fires and malfunctions to the regulator.

Passengers must alert cabin crew immediately if a device overheats, emits smoke or releases an unusual odour.

Lithium-ion batteries power many portable devices but can trigger fires if damaged, defective, overcharged or mishandled. Such incidents pose serious risks aboard aircraft, where smoke can spread quickly and crew access to the affected device may prove difficult.

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