The incident aboard the China Southern flight highlights the dangers of external batteries and lithium power sources on commercial aircraft. This past year, airlines across the globe cracked down on smartluggage — luggage with built-in batteries used to power the wheels on luggage or charge devices. This ban came after concerns about the batteries igniting in-flight. Faulty lithium-ion batteries have led to the complete grounding of the Boeing 787 in past years and are a theory for the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight 370.

As smartphones and tablets have grown in popularity, large external batteries have also become a staple for the frequent flyer. Notable companies specializing in these devices include Mophie and Ravpower. Though the devices are by no means cheap and are usually safe, they are not immune from exploding or igniting. Extreme heat, pressure and excessive use are the primary causes of electrical fires and explosions involving external power sources.

Other devices that have been banned from checked luggage in recent years due to the presence of lithium ion batteries include e-cigarettes, spare batteries and even large electronic devices. Nonetheless, a complete ban on lithium batteries is not likely to be implemented in carry-on luggage due to the widespread use in phones, tablets, laptops and chargers.

The Points Guy has reached out to China Southern Airlines for a statement on the incident but has yet to receive a response.

H/T: ChinaAviationReview on Twitter

Featured Image by Zhang Peng/LightRocket via Getty Images

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