DGCA prohibits MOBIKINS MK-PB-04 power banks after device exploded on IndiGo flight
GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· IT, AI, semiconductors & computing· Prelims·
Why in news
The DGCA prohibited the carriage of MOBIKINS MK-PB-04 power banks on all flights to, from, and within India following an explosion on an IndiGo flight.
Background
On October 11, a MOBIKINS MK-PB-04 power bank exploded in an overhead bin on an IndiGo flight from Chandigarh to Chennai, forcing a diversion to Hyderabad. Director General Vir Vikram Yadav issued an airworthiness information circular (AIC) on September 29, 2026, banning the specific model in both cabin and checked baggage.
Facts for Prelims
- BodyDGCA: Directorate General of Civil Aviation is the regulatory body for aviation safety in India
- FactThe prohibition specifically targets the MOBIKINS MK-PB-04 model, not all power banks
- FactThe incident occurred on an IndiGo flight from Chandigarh to Chennai on October 11
- PostVir Vikram Yadav is the Director General of Civil Aviation
For Mains
Q. Discuss the challenges in regulating lithium-ion battery safety in civil aviation and the trade-offs between passenger convenience and aviation safety.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Regulatory specificity: Difficulty in identifying and banning specific obscure brands versus blanket bans
- Safety protocols: Enforcement gap in screening cabin and checked baggage for non-standard electronic devices
Keywords: aviation safety · lithium-ion batteries · regulatory compliance · public safety · DGCA
More Science & Technology notes
- Delhi High Court issues notices over non-dairy paneer analogues sold as paneer · 14 October 2026
- IMD warns of orange and yellow alerts as northeast monsoon begins October 15, 2026 · 14 October 2026
- 200+ researchers including Geoffrey Hinton demand air-gapping for cyber-capable AI models · 14 October 2026
- Jaishankar says AI is more pervasive than nuclear technology, requires regulation and guardrails · 14 October 2026
- Science Corporation implants PRIMA chip to help Stargardt disease patient see letters · 14 October 2026
- Centre plans to shift 4.8 lakh datasets to Shakti DB to reduce AWS dependence · 14 October 2026
Something wrong, or something missing?
Spotted a mistake in a note, or want a topic, format or PDF that would help your preparation? Write to us. We read every mail and fix errors fast.
This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.