Noem: Travelers without Real ID can still fly
Kristi Noem told a congressional panel that 81% of travelers already have IDs that comply with the REAL ID requirements. She said security checkpoints will also be accepting passports and tribal identification when the deadline hits Wednesday. Nick de Mauro, CEO of Law Enforcement against drugs & violence and former NJ Police Officer & Detective, joins LiveNOW from FOX, along with FOX’s Chelsea Torres, to break down the latest information.
LOS ANGELES – Passengers on Southwest Airlines flights will soon have to keep their portable chargers in plain sight when using them due to rising concerns over lithium-ion battery fires.Â
The airline announced that this new policy goes into effect starting May 28, citing an increase in onboard battery-related incidents that pose significant safety risks.
Why is Southwest Airlines implementing this new rule?
The backstory:
Lithium-ion battery fires aboard airplanes are increasing year over year, according to data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). There have already been 19 reported incidents involving lithium batteries this year, following a record high of 89 last year. The problem has worsened steadily since the pandemic-era low of 39 incidents in 2020.
While these fires remain relatively rare compared to the roughly 180,000 flights operated weekly in the U.S., the potential severity of incidents remains a serious concern for airlines. Earlier this year, a fire aboard an Air Busan flight waiting to depart from South Korea forced the evacuation of all 176 passengers after flames burned through the aircraft’s roof.
What they’re saying:
Southwest Airlines stated that requiring portable chargers to remain visible will allow faster intervention should overheating or fire occur.
“In the rare event a lithium battery overheats or catches fire, quick access is critical,” the airline said in a statement. “Keeping power banks in plain sight allows for faster intervention and helps protect everyone onboard.”
Could other airlines follow Southwest’s lead?
Big picture view:
Southwest is currently the first U.S. airline to specifically mandate portable chargers remain visible during flights, but international carriers have already begun implementing similar restrictions. Korean airlines, for example, prohibit storing portable chargers in overhead bins unless they’re in a plastic bag or have insulated tape covering their ports to prevent contact with metal.Â
Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways have banned charging or using portable power banks altogether.
FILE – Southwest Airlines airplane taxies from a gate at Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport on October 11, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Given the global aviation industry’s growing concern, Southwest’s move could prompt other U.S. airlines to implement similar safety measures.
Recent incidents highlight growing concern
Dig deeper:
Several recent high-profile incidents underscore these concerns. Last summer, passengers evacuated a flight at San Francisco International Airport after a laptop began smoking inside a passenger’s bag. Another emergency landing occurred this year in Jacksonville, Florida, when a battery caught fire mid-flight en route from Dallas to Orlando.
The FAA continues to stress the importance of quickly accessing overheating devices, instructing passengers to notify flight crews immediately if their batteries become unusually hot, expand, smoke, or ignite.
Portable chargers will still be permitted in carry-on bags when not in use, aligning with TSA guidelines prohibiting lithium batteries in checked luggage due to the difficulty detecting and extinguishing cargo hold fires.
The Source: This report is based on information from Southwest Airlines’ official statements, Federal Aviation Administration statistics, and safety recommendations from the Transportation Security Administration. Additional context was provided by incidents involving Air Busan, Singapore Airlines, and Thai Airways.
