Southwest Bans Lithium Power Banks in Cabin

0:00On April 7th, Southwest Airlines just dropped a new rule on lithium power banks to cut down on fire risks mid-flight. Starting April 20th, you can only bring one per passenger, and it has to stay in your underseat bag or right with you. No overhead bins allowed. They also banned recharging them using seat power outlets. This lines up with fresh global guidelines from the UN's aviation group, which caps passengers at two power banks and stops all-in-flight charging. It's already an effect worldwide, and some airlines like Lufthansa, plus spots like South Korea, jumped ahead after battery scares. We've seen a spike in these issues. Last year alone, the FAA logged 97 cases of smoke, fire, or crazy heat from batteries on planes, up from 89 to year before. That prompted a big safety alert back in September, pushing carriers to tighten up. Southwest says this setup helps them contain any battery mishaps faster, keeping everyone safer.

1:00Other lines are following suit, especially after that nasty fire on an air-boost on flight last year. By mid-20027, Southwest plans full NC power across their whole fleet, so we'll lean less on those portable charges anyway. Smart move in a world that's all plugged in. That's your update from US News Today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story.