Attention:
All commercial air operators and private operators
| File Classification No.: | Z 5000-35 |
|---|---|
| RDIMS No.: | 21068516 |
| Document No.: | CASA 2025-10 |
| Issue No.: | 01 |
| Effective Date: | 2025-08-08 |
Purpose:
The purpose of this Civil Aviation Safety Alert is to advise operators that numerous power banks have been recalled by Health Canada due to potential risks and associated fire hazards. As such, operators may want to limit the use of power banks on board.
Background:
Under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, Health Canada may issue a recall of a consumer product where there are reasonable grounds that the product is a danger to human health or safety.
In recent years, numerous power banks have been issued recall notices by Health Canada, advising consumers to immediately stop using the product. Refer to Health Canda Recalls and Safety Alert page https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en for updated recalled power banks.
Lithium batteries, including power banks, are inherently flammable and can overheat and short circuit potentially causing fires, or explosions. To make batteries charge faster and last longer, battery manufacturers often reduce the thickness of the separator between the positive and negative electrode. A thinner separator has a greater chance of rupture, creating a short circuit. Mechanical stress on the devices can also alter the internal structure of the battery leading to a short circuit.
Spare (uninstalled) lithium ion and lithium metal batteries, including power banks and cell phone battery charging cases, must be carried in carry-on baggage only. When a carry-on bag is checked at the gate or at planeside, all spare lithium batteries and power banks must be removed from the bag and kept with the passenger in the aircraft cabin. The battery terminals must be protected from short circuit.
Lithium-ion cells or batteries that are damaged, defective or recalled should have their use limited on board aircrafts as they have an increased risk of overheating, posing a fire hazard.
Recommended action:
Operators should inform persons who inadvertently bring recalled or defective devices onto an aircraft to immediately power off the device and not to use or charge the device while on board the aircraft.
Additional steps should be taken to prevent the device from accidental activation by keeping the device on their person for the duration of the flight. and not in any carry-on baggage during the flight.
A crew member who identifies that a passenger is in possession of a recalled or defective device on board an aircraft should instruct the passenger to power off the device, to not use or charge the device while on board the aircraft, to protect the device from accidental activation, to keep the device on their person, and not in any carry-on baggage for the duration of the flight.
Operators with established procedures for dealing with lithium-ion battery fires or high-energy fires should continue to follow those procedures. Further guidance on lithium-ion and high energy fires can be found in Advisory Circular 700-065: Potential for High Energy Fires Due to Lithium-Ion Batteries.
Contact office:
For more information concerning this issue, contact Commercial Flight Standards, AARTF, by e-mail at aartfinfo-infoaartf@tc.gc.ca
Original signed by
Ryan Johnson
Acting Director
Standards
Prohibition of recalled power banks
(PDF, 217 KB)
The Transport Canada Civil Aviation Safety Alert (CASA) is used to convey important safety information and contains recommended action items. The CASA strives to assist the aviation industry's efforts to provide a service with the highest possible degree of safety. The information contained herein is often critical and must be conveyed to the appropriate office in a timely manner. The CASA may be changed or amended should new information become available.