Scare at International airport as power bank explodes

A mobile power bank kept inside the hand baggage of a passenger exploded at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA), leading to a scare at the T2 terminal on Friday morning. The incident is likely to make aviation security authorities rethink their policy of allowing power banks in a passenger's hand luggage. Presently, passengers can carry these devices in their hand baggage on switched-off mode. Power banks are not permitted to be carried in the check-in luggage. Airport sources said that the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), the regulatory authority for airport safety in India, has taken note of Friday's incident and will investigate the cause of the explosion before altering the policy to allow power banks in cabin baggage.

The use of power banks is on the rise and has become almost a necessity for those travelling as it provides back-up for charging the phone when away from power points.

A Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) source said that the power bank belonged to a SpiceJet passenger of flight SG479, who was about to fly to Mangaluru. The incident occurred when the passenger went to the toilet inside the airport terminal, and kept his bag just outside the toilet door. The explosion, which took place at 7.40 am, initially created panic among travellers. "The passenger was in the airport toilet when the power bank exploded," said an airport source. A SpiceJet spokesperson did not comment on the issue.