Southwest Airlines mandates visible portable chargers during flights to enhance safety, addressing risks of thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries.

Southwest is the first airline to formally require passengers to keep portable chargers in plain sight while in use during flights.  The move comes

The TSA already bans rechargeable and non-rechargeable lithium batteries for phones and laptops from checked baggage. Carry-on baggage is fine, but Southwest Airlines will soon require those chargers to be outside of all bags and visible while in use during the duration of the flight.