Turkish airline Pegasus has announced a ban on the use of portable chargers (power banks) on its flights, as part of enhanced safety measures following repeated incidents involving such devices.
اضافة اعلان
The decision comes after an incident occurred aboard a Korean Asiana Airlines flight traveling from Istanbul to Seoul, when the aircraft was forced to return to Istanbul while flying over Kazakhstan. The emergency return was triggered after a power bank slipped between passengers' seats, raising concerns over a potential fire risk.
Recommendation from the Turkish Ministry of Transport
Following the incident, Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, stated that a previous explosion of a power bank on a South Korean flight had led to a fire. He added:
“In order to ensure the safety of passengers and aircraft, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has recommended that airlines prohibit the use of power banks during flights.”
Effective Immediately
Pegasus responded promptly to the recommendation and issued a directive banning the use of power banks during flights. However, passengers are still allowed to carry power banks in their hand luggage, provided they are not used during the flight.
