China Bans Uncertified Power Banks on Planes Due to Fire Hazards
Udumbara
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China’s Civil Aviation Administration has banned passengers from bringing power banks with unclear markings, recalled units, or those lacking China Compulsory Certification on domestic flights, effective June 28.
At least 15 air safety incidents involving power banks overheating or catching fire have occurred in China since the beginning of 2025, according to Chinese media reports.
A security staff member at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport told The Epoch Times that lithium power banks have become a hazard to flight safety in recent years.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity because of safety concerns, he said, “In the past, security inspections prohibited unmarked power banks from being brought on board because the capacity and brand could not be identified. But now, even brands officially deemed ‘qualified’ are included in the restriction list, which undoubtedly increases the burden on security inspections.”
He said that if a power bank short-circuits, “its temperature can soar to over 400 degrees [Celcius] (752 degrees Fahrenheit) in a short period of time and can easily ignite surrounding items. Its burning power is far greater than that of a lighter. It can start a fire in just a dozen seconds, and ordinary fire extinguishers cannot immediately control it, so passengers can easily get burned.”
The ban only applies to domestic flights in China. Asked whether it will be extended to international routes, several airports said they have not received any notification but generally recommend that passengers follow the standard for onboard power banks: a capacity not exceeding 100 watt-hours, with clear branding and markings.
Sun Kuo-hsiang, a professor of international affairs and business at Nanhua University in Taiwan, told The Epoch Times on June 28 that if an international flight involves a transfer in mainland China, “the domestic flight segment will be subject to this restriction.”
He noted that, at present, international restrictions on power banks require they be carried on board and not checked in, with a capacity limit that is usually 100 watt-hours, although some can go up to 160 watt-hours with approval.
Millions of Chinese-Made Power Banks Recalled
The ban coincides with major Chinese power bank brands recalling products internationally due to safety hazards, including Anker and Romoss.
Romoss recalled about 490,000 power banks due to potential overheating and fire risks on June 17.
Sun said potential safety hazards are often due to quality issues with the lithium batteries. “The core of power banks is lithium batteries. If the battery quality is not up to standard, the production process is defective, or low-quality batteries are used, it is easy to cause the battery to overheat, swell, smoke, or even spontaneously combust or explode. This is also the main reason for the recent large-scale recall incidents.”
Some of the power banks or lithium batteries produced in China may be counterfeit goods, and some are of very poor quality, Shen Ming-Shih, director of the Division of National Security Research at Taiwan’s Institute for National Defense and Security Research, told The Epoch Times on June 28.
They may self-combust or explode, posing higher risks on planes and ships, Shen said. “The Chinese communist regime has already known that the quality of its own products is very poor, but still allows them to be exported to other countries,” Shen said.
He noted that many consumers, especially in developing countries, buy these Chinese power banks as they are cheap “but if there is a burning or explosion, these countries may not be able to seek compensation from China.”
