A China Shanghai Airlines flight on the 13th encountered smoke from a passenger's power bank. Crew members quickly intervened and passengers assisted with bottled water to extinguish the fire, resulting in a safe landing for the aircraft.
According to a report by Global Times, passenger Mr. Wang said that when the plane (flight number FM9449) was about to land, a passenger was using a power bank to charge a device, and suddenly the cabin filled with smoke. The crew and passengers worked together to handle the situation. An announcement in the cabin advised passengers to remain calm, and Wang felt a sense of relief but was quite scared afterward.
Journalists learned from Shanghai Airlines customer service that the flight took off and landed normally.
A review by Sanxiang Metropolis Daily reporters found that in June alone, there were several similar incidents across China. On June 10th, Shandong Airlines flight SC1159 was quickly dealt with due to smoke from a power bank, and the crew promptly controlled the situation. On June 5th, a China Southern Airlines flight from Hangzhou to Shenzhen returned to the airport for an emergency landing after a power bank smoked shortly after takeoff.
According to regulations by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, power banks with a rated energy ≤100Wh can be carried on board, and those between 100Wh and 160Wh require airline approval. They are prohibited from being checked in or used during the flight.
While domestic Chinese airlines do not strictly prohibit power banks on planes, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, and others have recently announced a complete ban on using power banks on board, and Malaysia requires power banks not to be stored in overhead compartments.