Baggage Fire Sparks Debate On Ban Of E-Cigarettes on Planes

Recently at Boston’s Logan Airport a JetBlue plane had to be evacuated because an e-Cigarette had caused a small fire in a passenger’s luggage. A nearby baggage handler smelled the smoke in this instance and extinguished the smoldering luggage. Since then, the debate over whether there should be tougher rules or an outright ban on electronic cigarettes on planes.

Reports say since the e-cigarette was packed in a passenger’s checked luggage Logan airport officials are asking US aviation authorities to consider classifying e-cigarettes as hazardous materials. Concerns being that had the bag had made it onto the plane and the plane into the air this could have been a much more frightening story.

Under existing rules, e-cigarettes are considered personal devices – meaning they are treated like laptop computers, mobile phones or other battery-powered devices – and can be taken onto a flight but not activated. Also any spare batteries cannot be stores in checked bag due to the fire risk.

At last report the US Department of transportation is not changing anything until three is further official proof the e-cigarette was to blame for the fire.

I can say this much though in searching the internet for more information on the credibility of this accusation I found this is not the first case of fire on and airplane that e-cigarettes or lithium batteries have been held suspect.