A Carry-On Bag Catches On Fire At The Airport

NOTE TO SELF: Don't bring lithium batteries to the airport; unless you want the risk of this happening.

A passengers carry-on bag caught on fire at Yeager Airport in West Virginia while it was passing through airport security.  Airport security was able to extinguish the flames and no one was hurt; nor did anyone have any flight delays related to the incident; but it is a warning...it could have been much worse.

WHAT'S ALLOWED AND WHAT'S NOT ALLOWED

According to the Federal Aviation Administration’s battery policy, the following batteries ARE allowed:

• ALLOWED: Lithium ion (rechargable)
• ALLOWED: Lithium metal (non-rechargeable) batteries are allowed in carry-on bags, but must be under a certain size or wattage.
• NOT ALLOWED: Loose lithium batteries are prohibited in checked bags.

Although a bag catching fire at an airport security check is unusual, it has happened before.

Last year a passenger’s phone charger exploded in the overhead compartment causing a fire on board China Southern Airlines in February of 2018. A "not so" Smartphone caught fire mid flight in 2017.