A power bank in a passenger’s possession exploded recently while he was about to depart on a flight from Abu Dhabi. The incident occurred on an Air Arabia flight between Abu Dhabi and Kozhikode. Authorities, including the Airport Authority of India (AAI), have issued specific guidelines for passengers carrying items during air travel. The presence of prohibited items in the hand baggage may result in travel cancellation and pose a threat to the flight itself. Passengers must ensure they do not carry any prohibited items before travelling.
The following items should not be carried in the hand luggage on a flight:
Personal items:
Lighters, flammable materials, sharp metal weapons, scissors, realistic toy weapons
Sharp objects:
Box cutters, knives (except round-bladed, butter knives, and plastic knives), ice axes/picks, meat cleavers, utility knives, razor blades, swords
Sporting goods:
Baseball bats, bows and arrows, cricket bats, golf clubs, hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks, pool cues, ski poles, spear guns
Firearms and weapons:
Ammunition, firearms, compressed air guns, gun lighters, gunpowder, firearm parts, pellet guns, replica firearms, starter pistols
Arms:
Hatchets, axes, crowbars, hammers, cattle prods, drills (including cordless portable power drills), screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers
Self-defense items:
Billy clubs, blackjacks, brass knuckles, pepper spray, martial arts weapons, nightsticks, and stun guns
Explosives:
Blasting caps, dynamite, firecrackers, hand grenades, realistic plastic explosives
Flammable materials:
Liquids, aerosols, gels, pastes (over 100 ml must be in a transparent bag), necessary items such as drug inhalers (with a doctor’s prescription) and baby food are allowed in the hand baggage.
Cooking fuel, liquid fuel, gas torches, lighter fluids, paint thinner, and turpentine lotion are prohibited.
Other hazardous materials:
Chlorine (used in pools and spas), fire extinguishers (including compressed gas cylinders), liquid bleach, spray paint, tear gas
The Gulf countries, including the UAE, are heading into the mid-summer break, a busy season for air travellers. Various airlines and airports have issued specific instructions that every passenger should follow while travelling by air. Proper preparation is essential, as carelessness by one passenger can endanger the lives and property of others.