steama
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Experts: Shipping Lithium Ion Batteries in Bulk as Cargo on Planes Is Unsafe
Experts: Shipping Lithium Ion Batteries in Bulk as Cargo on Planes Is Unsafe
Federal transportation regulators and the country's main pilot union are all warning against shipping large quantities of lithium ion batteries as cargo.
The National Transportation Safety Board on Wednesday said it's time to ban bulk battery shipments on all passenger planes. The Federal Aviation Administration put out a safety alert last month warning carriers that when transported as cargo the batteries pose "potential risk for a catastrophic hull loss."
While most U.S. airlines already ban bulk shipments of batteries, nearly every cell phone, laptop, tablet and gaming device on a plane comes with lithium batteries that can overheat.
"We're seeing regular events world-wide where lithium batteries are over-heating, causing on-board fires and that causes me concern," Capt. John Cox, an aviation analyst told NBC News.
Already small fires have forced several passenger planes to make emergency landings. A top pilots union is calling for tough new international standards.
The National Transportation Safety Board on Wednesday said it's time to ban bulk battery shipments on all passenger planes. The Federal Aviation Administration put out a safety alert last month warning carriers that when transported as cargo the batteries pose "potential risk for a catastrophic hull loss."
While most U.S. airlines already ban bulk shipments of batteries, nearly every cell phone, laptop, tablet and gaming device on a plane comes with lithium batteries that can overheat.
"We're seeing regular events world-wide where lithium batteries are over-heating, causing on-board fires and that causes me concern," Capt. John Cox, an aviation analyst told NBC News.
Already small fires have forced several passenger planes to make emergency landings. A top pilots union is calling for tough new international standards.
