How many reports of overheating lithium laptop batteries must we hear before airport security agents start cracking down on my Dell Inspiron or your Apple MacBook? Sure, the damage intended by terrorists from a seemingly innocuous-looking bottle of liquid would be terrible. But today's reports of overheating -- and in some cases, spontaneously combusting -- laptop batteries brought the considerable specter of an exploding laptop at 30,000 feet.
"Most of the incidents reported to the CPSC occurred around the home, but transportation-safety officials have become increasingly concerned about the threat of a laptop causing a catastrophic fire aboard a commercial jetliner," said the AP version of the report. The New York Times article brought up a fire in the overhead bin of a Lufthansa jet while on the runway in Chicago (no one has confirmed whether or not this battery was housed in a Dell laptop).
With Apple recalling MacBooks because of overheating in June, I have to wonder: how is it that shampoo is verboten, but a potentially flammable laptop can proceed on the plane, to huddle on the floor with all the other laptops, cell phones, Blackberries and illiquid snacks? Investors' minds clearly weren't going where mine is, with Dell down 1.41% in after-hours trading, Apple up a bit, and after-hours quotes unavailable for American Airlines and Delta.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-14-2006 @ 10:31PM
Brian said...
Paranoa at it's best I can't belive just because a few bad guys who wanted to bring something aborad the airplane we all ended up paying for it the peeps at tsa are so bored at there jobs they just come up with any excuse to make life incovient for all of us
i find it ironic that the airlines can have soda but you can't bring one on borad after making a purchase
go fig this one out the conspery therioust might want to check this one out. again what is next can't bring your shoes or your favorite teddy bear.:)))))
8-15-2006 @ 11:35AM
Jon Batt said...
I for one will not miss the noxious odors of Hair spray,nail polish and remover and various colognes and perfumes used just before landing.
It was far worse than tobacco smoke.
8-15-2006 @ 12:17PM
Abby said...
I would say, next time on an aircraft! Don't take anything with you!
And as someone above me commented, it is now possible to stay away from that mixture of unwanted smells!
Why Ban liquids ? Do terrorists make bombs while on the aircraft ?? Amazing :|