Have you ever heard of self-balancing scooters, more popularly known as hoverboards? I had not heard of them until just a few months ago. They have wheels, so they don’t really hover, which is disappointing. What the devices do, however, is catch fire from time to time. According to CNET, a popular online source for consumer technology news and reviews, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has received at least 10 reports of hoverboard fires.
Why is this relevant to AeroSafety World and Flight Safety Foundation? Because more than 50 airlines around the world have banned the transport of these devices on their aircraft. In announcing its ban on Dec. 10, Delta Air Lines said, “Poorly labeled, powerful, lithium-ion batteries powering hoverboards are the issue. Delta reviewed hoverboard product specifications and found that manufacturers do not consistently provide detail about the size or power of…
