Hanjin Group Bans In-Flight Power Bank Use: What Passengers Need to Know About Korean Air, Asiana, and Subsidiaries

A few years after the turn of the New year 2026, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) banned the use of power banks in flights across India. From January 26, 2026, South Korea’s Hanjin Group — comprising Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Jin Air, Air Busan and Air Seoul — will follow suit as it looks to institute a full prohibition on the in-flight use of portable batteries and power banks, reported Straight Times.  This directive affects both domestic and international operations, and it forbids passengers from charging devices with portable batteries during flight, while requiring compliance with carry-on placement protocols.

The ban arises from documented onboard lithium-ion incidents — including a notable blaze aboard an Air Busan aircraft (specifically Air Busan Flight 391) — and aligns with a broader global trend of carriers enhancing safety protocols for portable power sources, such as is the case of Southwest Airlines (WN) – the budget carrier that has already banned the use of power banks in carry-on bags. Passengers boarding flights at any one of the carriers of Hanjin Group may bring portable batteries onboard within existing capacity limits, but use, charging and storage in overhead bins are expressly prohibited under the new policy.

Profiles of the Five South Korean Carriers Enforcing the Portable Battery Ban

Hanjin Group’s New Portable Battery Policy Explained

Under the ban effective January 26, 2026:

• Passengers may carry portable batteries and power banks onboard only within existing carry-on restrictions (e.g., up to 100 watt-hours without approval).

• Charging or using portable batteries during flight is prohibited on all flights of the five airlines.

• Portable batteries must be kept within arm’s reach: on the passenger, in the seat pocket or under the seat in front.

• Storage in overhead bins is strictly banned to allow immediate detection of overheating or anomalies.

• Safety precautions such as insulating tape on terminals or plastic pouches are recommended before boarding.

This suite of measures reflects a preventative safety philosophy, prioritizing early detection and crew response to potential cell-thermal events — conditions that can rapidly evolve into fire incidents.

A Korean Air was quoted in The Strait Times to have said:

“This complete ban on the in-flight use of portable batteries is an unavoidable measure for safe aircraft operations, and cooperation from passengers is vital.. All of the Hanjin Group airlines will do their best to ensure safe, comfortable trips for customers.”

Regulatory context: International and Domestic Battery Safety Laws

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), a power bank are “are classified as UN 3480, Lithium-ion batteries” and “considered spare batteries and must be individually protected from short-circuit and carried in carry-on baggage only“. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advisory, the following are the rules on the portable power bank carriage on passenger flights.

Even the Transport Safety Administration says that:

“Portable chargers or power banks containing a lithium-ion battery must be packed in carry-on bags. Spare lithium batteries, which include both power banks and phone chargers, are prohibited in checked luggage.”

South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport implemented a policy last year to mitigate the effects of power banks on flights, reported news.koreaniar.com:

“insulating tape to prevent short circuits (short circuits) is provided to passengers who need it at check-in counters, boarding gates, and in-flight, and at least two power bank isolation storage bags are mandatory on board. A temperature-sensitive sticker that turns red when the temperature exceeds 40 degrees Celsius is attached to the outside of the cabin shelf so that the heat inside the shelf can be detected more quickly”.

Recent Comparable Incidents That Drove Hanjin Group to Change Powerbank Rules

Air Busan Flight 391 is one of the catalysts for the Hanjin Group’s decision to ban in-flight use of portable lithium-ion batteries, though this case can be thought as a microcosm in the wider spectrum of events surrounding lithium-ion batteries in flights.

How Air Busan Flight 391 influenced the Hanjin Group’s lithium battery ban

In January 2025, an Air Busan Airbus A321 preparing for departure from Gimhae International Airport (PUS), Busan experienced a cabin fire that investigators linked to a lithium-ion power bank inside a carry-on bag.

Chronology of Air Busan Flight 391

The Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB) reported that the fire occurred in an overhead bin during pre-departure, prompting an emergency evacuation of all 169 passengers and 7 crew members. The incident dramatically highlighted the risks posed by unmonitored batteries in enclosed aircraft spaces, with National Forensic Service (NFS) stating the following:

“The battery remnants were extensively burned, making it challenging to determine the exact cause of the insulation breakdown based solely on the post-fire condition….No electrical abnormalities or fire-related damage were identified in the aircraft’s wiring, lighting fixtures, or circuit board remnants. This makes it highly unlikely that the fire originated from any part of the aircraft’s internal infrastructure.”

According to a report on the matter published in AJU Press, investigators assessed that the fire originated in the overhead bin above seat 30 on the left side of the cabin. Video recorded by a passenger captured flames emerging from that location, and charred remains of a portable backup battery were subsequently recovered near seat 31.

On 3 February, a joint team comprising the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB), the National Forensic Service (NFS), police forensic specialists, and fire authorities carried out an on-site examination. Evidence gathered from rows 28 to 32—including cabin wiring, lighting components, and battery debris—was forwarded to the NFS for computed tomography (CT) imaging and microscopic analysis, with ARAIB reporting:

“Based on our findings so far, we are focusing on the likelihood that the fire was caused by the power bank and will continue our investigation accordingly..If we identify any necessary safety measures during the investigation, we will issue safety recommendations to the airline and other relevant parties.”

Comparison of Aviation Incidents Related to Power Bank / portable battery fire risks