Southwest Airlines Is Requiring Passengers to Remove This Common Item Starting September 25

Southwest Airlines is tightening its guidelines for passengers who are in wheelchairs and scooters that are powered by lithium batteries.

They have to take away them before getting on flights. That determination comes after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration issued a security alert on lithium batteries on August 25.

According to GWN, the airline announced on September 12 that it would require passengers “to take out removable lithium batteries from powered wheelchairs and scooters before boarding, citing fire risks.”

The regulation goes into impact on September 25, GWN reported.

Lithium Batteries Are a Common Source of Smoke & Fire Incidents on Aircraft, Southwest Airlines Wrote

“Lithium batteries have become one of the most common sources of smoke and fire incidents on aircraft. While these events are rare, quick access and visibility are critical to keeping everyone onboard safe,” Southwest wrote its staff in a be aware obtained by GWN.

“By taking proactive steps now, Southwest will be among the first U.S. carriers to adopt these higher standards.”

The security alert from the FAA outlined the “risks associated with the carriage of lithium batteries in aircraft passenger compartments. In addition, it emphasizes the importance of identifying all potential hazards and implementing appropriate risk mitigation strategies to manage lithium battery thermal runaway events, which are self-sustaining, uncontrolled increases in pressure and temperature.”

The alert warned, “Lithium batteries (including power banks and portable chargers) can act as ignition sources and potentially start onboard fires. Lithium batteries stored in passenger overhead bins and or in carry-on baggage may be obscured, difficult to access, or not readily monitored by passengers or crewmembers.”

The alert prompt that airways “advise passengers on what lithium batteries are, where they are found, how thermal runaway occurs, and the associated risks.”

According to GWN, lithium batteries are also discovered in “Cell phones, laptops, portable power banks, e-cigarettes, and hearing aids.” The FAA counted “50 verified battery-related incidents through August,” GWN reported.

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This story was initially reported by Men’s Journal on Sep 14, 2025, where it first appeared in the Travel part. Add Men’s Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking right here.