Southwest Airlines is implementing a new rule later this month that will require flyers who use portable chargers and batteries while traveling on their flights to keep the electronics in plain sight, citing potential fire risks.
The airline said the regulation will take effect on May 28 and that some customers may start getting notifications about it on the mobile application.
“Southwest will introduce a first-in-industry Safety policy on May 28, requiring Customers to keep portable charging devices visible while in use during flight," the airline told The Hill in an emailed statement. "Using portable charging devices while stored in a bag or overhead bin will no longer be permitted."
“Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of its Customers and Employees,” the company spokesperson wrote.
The Dallas-based airline pointed to safety reasons for introducing the new policy after a number of incidents of lithium batteries overheating or catching fire. The company argued that by keeping the batteries in plain sight, crewmembers would have quick access, allowing for faster intervention.
Southwest is the first U.S.-based airline to institute such a policy.
So far, there have been nine verified and another 10 incidents pending verification regarding lithium battery incidents involving smoke, fire and extreme heat, according to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) data that was last updated on April 3.
The Transportation Security Administration does allow travelers to have power banks in carry-on bags, but they are not allowed in checked luggage.
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