E-cigarette in luggage blamed for smoke, emergency landing
ASSOCIATED PRESS / JULY 2015
An e-cigarette and e-liquid are displayed in Sacramento,Calif.
Hawaiian Airlines says an e-cigarette illegally put in a checked bag may have caused smoke and an emergency landing.
The cargo-smoke indicator in the cockpit lit up during a flight from Honolulu to Maui on Tuesday, an airline spokesman said today.
Alex Da Silva said the captain turned on the plane’s fire-suppression system, declared an emergency and landed quickly at the Maui Airport.
After the plane landed, fire crews found two pieces of checked luggage that seemed to have fire damage caused by an e-cigarette in one of the bags, he said.
The Federal Aviation Administration bans electronic cigarettes from checked luggage, although they are allowed in carry-on bags.
Da Silva said that Maui police were investigating. Police did not immediately answer requests for comment.
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13 responses to “E-cigarette in luggage blamed for smoke, emergency landing”
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Will the TSA staff get a good scolding for this oversight?
Dude could have at least removed the battery before hiding it?
Confirms that TSA is useless and misses 90% of everything they should catch. This guy should be in real trouble, too. Seems to me that most people that smoke these don’t think of anyone but themselves. This was dangerous and inconvenienced all of the good people on the plane.
So, let’s say TSA changes their search tactics as a result of this isolated incident by a idiotic traveller. Allie, I’ll bet you’ll be singing a different tune when they go through all your luggage, or you are delayed trying to catch your flight because they are going through someone else’s. People will criticize the TSA for oversights, as well as for using greater thoroughness in doing their job. In the public,s eye TSA is “Damned if they do, and damned if they don’t”.
Lucky for, allie, that a G String doesn’t take up too much space.
They seem to go though my stuff pretty thoroughly. They’re even so nice as to relieve me of stuff like beef jerky and dried fish that are carefully packed and placed in my checked baggage. Of the items that TSA has relieved me of, NONE of them are on the “prohibited” list. The TSA is “security theater” at best. All show, no go. TST = They’ll Steal Anything.
I’ve had them go through my Scuba gear and just throw it back it any old way. The worst thing is there is a paper that says it is check but not by who, so there is no accountability if something is broken.
“fire crews found two pieces of checked luggage that seemed to have fire damage caused by an e-cigarette in one of the bags”. – Seemed to or actually did have fire damage? This is either bad reporting (quite possible) or they really don’t know what set off their sensors and needed a scapegoat to blame the incident on.
Yes, with reservations. A good council answer where no one can be blamed.
butinski is also a good fellow that no one can deny.
At least report to us what flavor was in the e- Cig. Watermelon. Kiwi. Banana…
Smells good at the bus stop.
Let me guess. The owner didn’t turn it off before packing it in. Who’s going to pay for any damages?