Southwest Airlines unveils new portable charger rule for passenger safety

Published

1 year ago

May 22, 2025

Southwest Airlines unveils new portable charger rule for passenger safety

Travelers will need to follow a new rule regarding juicing up their devices while flying on Southwest Airlines.

The Texas-based airline will be “requiring customers to keep portable charging devices visible while in use during flight,” a Southwest spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

“Using portable charging devices while stored in a bag or overhead bin will no longer be permitted,” the spokesperson added.

FLIGHT PASSENGERS MAY FACE BIG HURDLES DURING MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND TRAVELS

“Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of its customers and employees.”

A passenger’s battery charger recently caught fire on a JetBlue flight from Florida to the Bahamas, Business Insider reported.

Starting May 28, Southwest Airlines is mandating that customers’ portable chargers remain visible during flights to enhance safety. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

Smoke and flames erupted in the cabin of the flight due to the portable charger overheating in the passenger’s carry-on luggage.

Portable chargers, or power banks, are not allowed in checked bags but can be packed in carry-on bags as they have lithium-ion batteries, according to TSA.

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The FAA website notes that “all lithium-ion batteries are capable of overheating and experiencing a process called thermal runaway.”

Southwest Airlines has introduced a new rule requiring portable chargers to be visible during flights. (iStock)

“Thermal runaway can occur without warning as a result of various factors, including if the battery is damaged, overheated, exposed to water, overcharged, or improperly protected.”

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The policy will begin on May 28. Customers with the Southwest app have shared that they are receiving notifications about the policy already.

Portable chargers or power banks are not allowed in checked bags but can be packed in carry-on bags as they have lithium-ion batteries, according to TSA. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

In the “r/SouthwestAirlines” forum on Reddit, a user shared a screenshot of the notification, titling the post, “I had no idea this was an issue.”

The post said, “Got this pop-up for the first time, and I’m baffled.”

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The notification showed a battery graphic saying, “If you use a power bank during your flight, keep it out of your bag and in plain sight. Do not charge [the] device in the overhead bin.”

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Dallas seafood wholesaler fined $250K for false salmon labeling

Published

1 hour ago

July 17, 2026

Press Room

Dallas seafood wholesaler fined 0K for false salmon labeling

DALLAS – A Dallas seafood wholesaler has been ordered to pay a $250,000 fine after admitting it falsely labeled the country of origin of salmon, federal prosecutors announced on Friday.

Seafood Supply Co. fined

What we know:

Seafood Supply Co. was sentenced in federal court after pleading guilty in March to two counts of violating the Lacey Act, a federal law that prohibits trafficking in falsely labeled fish, wildlife and plants.

According to court records, the company falsely identified Chilean salmon as originating from Scotland or other European countries between January 2020 and February 2022. Prosecutors said the mislabeling allowed the company to market less expensive Chilean salmon as higher-value European product.

Understanding the Lacey Act

Photo: Two rare orange lobsters were found in the same shipment to Whitney's Seafood Market in Hudson, Florida.

Dig deeper:

The Lacey Act requires accurate labeling of imported fish and other wildlife products.

Federal officials say the law helps protect consumers and ensures fair competition in the marketplace by preventing companies from misrepresenting the origin of seafood products.

What’s next:

The investigation was conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Law Enforcement as part of Operation Upstream Diligence, a federal initiative targeting seafood fraud and illegal trade.

The case was prosecuted by the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas.

The Source: Information in this article was provided by the Department of Justice.

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Miami, FL

Absolutely Not: Florida woman’s “suggestive” license plate goes viral

Published

1 hour ago

July 17, 2026

Press Room

Absolutely Not: Florida woman’s “suggestive” license plate goes viral

A Pompano Beach woman sparked laughs and debate after receiving a new license plate that appeared to make a cheeky reference to her backside. At first, the 76‑year‑old refused to drive around with something so suggestive, especially in her senior community. But after seeing neighbors react with humor, she changed her mind, embraced the joke, and the story quickly went viral.

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Atlanta, GA

You can watch the Atlanta United vs Nashville MLS match live for free tonight – Here’s how

Published

2 hours ago

July 17, 2026

Press Room

You can watch the Atlanta United vs Nashville MLS match live for free tonight – Here’s how

MLS rivalry games continue tonight with Alexey Miranchuk and Atlanta United FC facing off with Sam Surridge and Nashville FC in this highly anticipated matchup. Kickoff takes place Friday, July 17, at 5:10 p.m. PT/8:10 p.m. ET (6:10 p.m. MDT), streaming live on Apple TV+ (free trial) and simulcast on FOX.

What TV channel is the Nashville vs. Atlanta MLS match on tonight? Is it streaming free anywhere?

You can watch every single MLS game this season streaming exclusively on Apple TV+, which is offering a free trial right now. Select games for the 2026 season will be simulcast on Fox and Fox networks like FS1. Apple TV+ remains the only way to ensure you see every one of your favorite MLS teams’ games live, for free.

When: Friday, July 17, at 5:10 p.m. PT/8:10 p.m. ET (6:10 p.m. MDT)

Where: GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Streaming: Apple TV+ (free trial)

TV Broacast: Fox

Apple TV+ subscribers also get access to a wealth of premium content, including Friday Night Baseball, hit original movies, and buzzworthy series like Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed, Severance, Shrinking, Pluribus, Silo, Slow Horses, The Studio, Your Friends & Neighbors, and Ted Lasso, with new originals arriving year-round.

You can also watch select MLS games live on Fox and FS1, which you can access right now through a free trial through DIRECTV.

DIRECTV

Stream your favorite shows free for 5 days, with new promotional pricing on subscriptions.

DIRECTV Free Trial