A KLM 777 flying to Curacao turned back to Amsterdam after a power bank fire in business class—started by the airline's former CEO.
"They also can’t be used during the flight."
News to me too
There is no blanket ban, some airlines have banned the use of powerbanks on their own accord, and some regulators have banned it for the airlines they regulate. So it could be a matter of what airlines you fly.
The other part is that the ban is just an announcement with all the other ones, so it can be missed.
Since beginning of the year a lot of airlines, including KLM, forbid power banks to be used during flight, so this is not news.
It depends where you live/fly.
- From 01 Jan 2027, IATA and ICAO rules strongly discourage (but don't prohibit) power bank use to recharge portable electronic devices in flight. IATA announced this changed advisory in March 2026. Many airlines and several countries changed their rules after March 2026 and now fully prohibit power bank use onboard.
- Most European, Middle Eastern and Asian airlines by now prohibit the use of power banks to charge devices. This includes Air France/KLM (as in this post), ANA, JAL, Korean Air, Lufthansa Group, Emirates, Etihad, EVA, easyjet, Cathay, Singapore Airlines, Air China, China Southern, Virgin, Qantas, etc.
- Major US airlines and British Airways currently allow use during the cruise phase of a flight, but rely on flight attendant supervision, requiring flight attendants to monitor that passengers don't use power banks to charge devices unattended, while sleeping or during taxi, take-off and landing. Under US law and FAA rules, passengers have to follow flight attendant orders related to safety, aircraft operations, stowage, passenger handling, and regulatory compliance.
Basically, it seems like US airlines and BA ask flight attendants to babysit their passengers, while other airlines expect passengers to listen to the rules and behave responsibly.
It’s a worry. On BA, in the Club Suite someone could easily be asleep with a power bank charging from the in-seat power or charging a device within the flat storage compartment and crew wouldn’t see. Ditto in economy in a seat back pocket. There was recently a power bank fire on a LHR-LAS flight that sent flames shooting up the cabin wall in a matter of seconds. Luckily the plane was on final approach to LAS and was met by fire trucks although cabin crew had got the situation under control. The current BA rule is that they must not be in overhead lockers, but I don’t want to imagine how big a battery fire could get before getting noticed somewhere over the Atlantic in the middle of the night.
They clearly announce this on board after take off. And also before landing. What an ignorant man this former CEO and former Minister of Transport is. Really too bad he is getting off so lightly.
"...given that he could’ve just charged electronics via the in-seat power supply..."
I have to take a moment here - were the plugs working? I've run into FAR too many situations where they wete not. Usually on domestic flights on older planes, but still...
[This is still stupid, but if the plugs weren't working I would suggest the airline has a role in this as well.]
Can anyone explain why charging a power bank during the flight is really dangerous but charging any other device directly is not?
Because most other devices such as smartphones present lower stored energy, superior thermal tracking, and higher manufacturing consistency, airlines tolerate charging them directly while prohibiting power bank recharging. For power bank production, barrier of entry is low, most are no-name and battery chemistry/electric quality is low.
@Beachfan talking out of their ass. Literally every portable device these days uses lithium based batteries.
Rules for me but not for thee. He's a rich / powerful f.
Signed,
Barely comfortable / powerless f.
This happened to a buddy of mine a few months ago. He was using his power bank while landing and it caught fire. The crew had special blankets to put it out. Didn't explode or anything. You should not use them at all on flights, but people need to doomscroll...
The incident has proven that he's not wrong: He broke the rules and didn't get any form of punishment, so apparently yes the rules don't apply to him.
Thank god security confiscated my tiny sewing scissors. Wouldn’t want to let something unsafe onboard
How embarrassing for that former CEO…
Ok, so, real talk, no Delft Blue Houses, right?
I can understand not using them or having them in checked bags, but the idea that they must remain visible is insane. Way more dangerous to have something that could slide around, get crushed by seat, people, etc than to have it safely in your bag.
My phone and laptop are both also power banks. Whatever tech makes those ok should be applied to power banks so that we can have "flight-safe" ones to use.
Power banks made by well known manufacturers have reliable battery chemistry, bms, cut offs and are designed to sustain the occasional knock. It’s the cheap Chinese products that one should be weary of.
so the company has to pay a compensation to all passengers just because of him, plus the cost of diverting the flight and flying it back to destination
Plus the cost of fixing that seat. I don't think they would be able to continue to use that seat as it and so they'll need to fix it so that people can sit there!
No, this counts as extraordinary circumstance for the airline so no compensation from EU261/04
Senior KLM folks are not great at following rules. See also Tenerife.
Based on the picture it looks like he charged the powerbank (there is a laptop charger seemingly connected to the powerbank). This is even more dangerous in terms of exploding power banks but also explains why he would do it (as charging the phone with it doesn't make sense with in-seat power).
We love "Mr. No Show" hahaha. This guy is such a tool. Sorry Camiel, lots of hot air, little results. I admire that.
One small correction to you, Ben: Eurlings is not “now a politician.” He left active Dutch politics in 2010. He is currently a partner at Knighthood Global, an aviation advisory and investment company.
Also, for readers outside the Netherlands: his short tenure as CEO of KLM was hardly remembered as a success. Dutch media repeatedly reported criticism from employees and unions that he was largely invisible and showed too little leadership. After his departure, NOS reported that people inside the company said he was simply not present enough and produced few visible results.
It gets worse: later reporting described how he had earned the nickname “Mister No Show” within KLM because he would regularly fail to appear at meetings without notice and could reportedly be unreachable for days. His departure was ultimately the result of a unanimous decision by KLM’s supervisory board.
Terrible CEO. Terrible Minister too.
That's why he's on fire during a power (bank) trip?
He just wants the attention he deserved.
Passengers should sue him for €600.
KLM should sue him for the repairs and diversion.
Send him the bill for the diversion and the repairs.