Airlines might have a new problem to deal with after a man was 'set on fire' after a device exploded and ignited into flames while inside his pocket, causing a mass evacuation to occur at Melbourne airport.
You might think that it's overly restrictive what you can and can't take onto a plane and through security at an airport, but there's a clear reason why certain devices might be more dangerous than you'd expect, with one in particular emerging as a threat that airlines end up dealing with.
Portable chargers can be lifesavers when it comes to lengthy travel days, as you're not always near a plug point that lets you power up your essential gadgets, so having something that you can pull out at any point is extremely useful.
This is especially the case when it comes to delays at the airport, as you never know quite how long you'll be stuck waiting for your flight to arrive, but some speculate that they could soon be banned after a horrifying incident left one traveler with extreme burns.
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As reported by the Independent, one 50-year-old man was relaxing at the Qantas business lounge inside Melbourne airport when the portable power bank inside his trouser pocket suddenly ignited and burst into flames, leaving him with horrible injuries and forcing around 150 passengers to be evacuated from the area.
The device itself was powered by a lithium battery, and without any warning exploded while inside his pocked, with some passengers recalling that battery acid went "flying everywhere."
According to accounts of those at the incident, the man's jacket caught on fire and the room was immediately filled with smoke and a strong smell, and the 50-year-old was quickly directed by staff towards a shower before being taken to hospital with significant burns on both his leg and fingers.
Qantas has since indicated that it is reviewing its rules regarding power banks, adding that "the lounge was evacuated as a precaution and emergency services treated the customer on site. We worked with Melbourne airport to clean the lounge and it has since reopened."
Lithium batteries are present within almost every modern electronic device that we carry around with us today, from phones to laptops to wearable gadgets, but power banks – while not inherently more dangerous – have proven to be a risk due to the higher chance of cheaper parts with fewer safety features.
Some airlines already restrict the use of portable chargers while on the plane, but some are speculating that new measures could be introduced globally to restrict them in cabin luggage altogether, and this recent incident only adds weight to those claims.