Southwest Airlines Says You Can't Use Portable Chargers Inside Your Bags

Southwest Airlines is implementing a new safety policy, effective May 28, requiring passengers to keep portable phone chargers and power banks visible during flights when you're charging a device. The airline will prohibit the use of these devices while they're stored in carry-on bags or overhead bins, aiming to mitigate the risk of lithium-ion battery fires. This policy change comes in response to a series of incidents involving overheating lithium-ion batteries. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, there have been 22 battery-related incidents on flights in 2025 alone, following a record 89 such events in 2024. Notably, a fire aboard an Air Busan flight in South Korea in January -- suspected to have been caused by a power bank with deteriorated insulation -- led to the evacuation of 176 people, including passengers and crew. Read more: The Best Way to Pack Your Carry-On Bag to Breeze Through TSA Lines While the FAA and the Transportation Security Administration current ... Read full article.