Woman dies after power bank explodes on her lap while charging her phone
A woman in the US died after a power bank exploded on her lap while charging her mobile phone, prompting a re-announcement of the recall of almost 430,000 portable chargers.
PEOPLE Magazine reported on May 20 that the reissued recall was made by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
It came after a senior woman from New Jersey died after charging her cellphone with the power bank on her lap as it ignited and then exploded. The victim suffered second- and third-degree burns, and later passed away from injury complications.
Early this year, a 47-year-old woman was also using her power bank during a flight when the lithium-ion battery caught fire and exploded. The victim suffered first-degree burns.
The malfunctioning device in both cases was the Casely Power Bank 5000mAh portable MagSafe wireless charger, model E33A.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Casely previously announced a recall of the power bank in April 2025. Apart from the death of the woman, the company received 51 other consumer reports of the battery "overheating, expanding or catching fire while they were charging their phones."
Since the first recall was announced, 28 additional similar reports have been made.
The power banks were sold online in the US market between March 2022 and September 2024. In its latest announcement of the recall, CPSC warned owners of the power bank not to throw the device in the trash or recycling bins. Recalled lithium-ion batteries contain a higher risk of fire, so they need to be disposed of through a municipal household hazardous waste collection center.
Instead of tossing these in the trash, Casely announced consumers could apply for a free replacement at the firm's website.
