u.s. considers expanding a laptop ban as lithium battery fires increase - lithium ion rechargeable battery

As the U. S.
Federal data show that the government is considering expanding the ban on commercial flight cabin laptops and other electronic devices, which may increase the risk of fire by storing them in the cargo area of the aircraft.
Statistics from the Federal Aviation Administration show that aircraft fires involving lithium batteries are on the rise.
In 2014, the FAA reported that the battery was responsible for nine fires, extreme heat or smoke on cargo and passenger aircraft.
This number increased to 16 in 2015;
31 in 2016 and 17 in the first five months of 2017.
Most fire or overheating devices are doused with water or coffee or sprayed with fire extinguishers.
During this period, three flights were transferred due to a battery fire.
Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said Wednesday at a panel meeting in the House that he is considering expanding the e-
A ban on equipment was imposed on 71 other international airports.
These devices are not allowed to appear in the cabins of 10 airports, mainly in the Middle East.
Kelly did not disclose the names of other airports under consideration.
The restrictions stem from news reports that terrorists can hide explosives in electronic devices but cannot detonate them remotely.
These restrictions require passengers to store laptops and other electronic products larger than their mobile phones in checked baggage in the cargo compartment.
In his testimony to the House Homeland Security Committee, Kelly said he was aware of the fire danger of batteries and hoped that foreign airports would increase security technology to avoid the need to expand the electronic ban.
"There are a lot of people who say that lithium batteries themselves are dangerous and they just suddenly burn up," he said . ".
"So we're dealing with this, too. "hugo. martin@latimes.
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