DOT: No e-cigarettes, vaporizers allowed in checked baggage on flights

Passengers will still be allowed to carry the popular smoking devices in their carry-on bag. However, passengers can not recharge the devices while on the plane.

According to the Department of Transportation at least twenty six incidents have been noted since 2009, where an e-cigarette caused in-flight fires or explosions. The issues are typically caused when electronic smoking devices are left on for extended periods of time and short circuit. “Today’s interim final rule is in response to recent smoke and fire incidents involving e-cigarettes in passenger baggage and the need to harmonize the hazardous materials regulations with an addendum to the 2015-2016 worldwide Civilian Aviation Organization Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of risky Goods by Air that became effective on June 9, 2015”. At LAX a checked bag caught fire in the luggage area because of an overheated e-cigarette packed inside.

The Department of Transportation is moving to ban electronic cigarettes in airline passengers’ checked luggage on commercial flights. Aircraft manufacturer Boeing warned airlines about carrying bulk shipments of lithium-ion batteries, and the FAA has urged airlines to warn passengers against carrying extra batteries in their baggage.

Electronic cigarettes have also caused controversy on the ground.

The rule does not apply to other devices containing batteries for personal use, such as laptop computers, cell phones and cameras, the DOT said.