Smoke at LAX: A Close Call with Personal Electronics
On the afternoon of August 21, 2017, travelers at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) witnessed an alarming scene as a passenger's checked bag, discharging smoke, made its way down the baggage conveyor belt. Airport staff, on high alert, swiftly intervened, isolating the smoking suitcase away from the crowd. It was a tense moment, with onlookers held back at a safe distance, as the LAX emergency response team carefully opened the smoking luggage. Inside, they discovered spare lithium-ion batteries inside a charging unit for an e-cigarette had overheated, resulting in the smoke.
The quick response of airline staff and emergency personnel averted what could have been a more severe incident. No injuries were reported, but the scare was a stark reminder of the often-overlooked hazards of traveling with electronic devices and their accessories. Following the incident, American Airlines reiterated the importance of proper storage and transportation of batteries and electronic devices. The event sparked an initiative for greater awareness and education on the risks associated with carrying such items in checked luggage.
While the situation at LAX did not escalate to a fire, it underscores the potential dangers that seemingly harmless personal items can pose when not handled correctly during travel. The transportation and airline industry has since been working on developing better safety protocols to prevent similar incidents.
In light of these risks, there is an increased call for innovative solutions that provide safety and peace of mind for travelers. Products like the FireTowel, with its specialized design featuring a thicker material than a standard fire blanket, weights along the perimeter to contain and trap smoke, and handles for easy maneuvering, could be a game-changer. Such a towel can be quickly deployed to wrap a smoking or flaming device, suppressing smoke and flames, preventing oxygen from fuelling a potential fire, and reducing the risk of damage and injury. If FireTowels were readily accessible, for instance, under airplane seats, travelers could act swiftly to contain similar emergencies, ensuring a safer journey for everyone onboard.