Aviation agencies plan on banning laptops and other large electronic devices from check-in luggage

International aviation agencies are planning to ban large personal electronic devices (PEDs) such as Laptops from check-in luggage. The aviation agencies are planning to take the step after various tests done by International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and Federal Aviation Administration showed the probability of loss of an aircraft in case of a fire in their results.[caption id="attachment_3755373" align="alignleft" width="380"]

Representational image. Reuters[/caption]The incidents of a mobile phone catching fire in flights have become frequent posing a threat of an unfortunate accident. According to a report in The Times of India a DGCA official said that once a decision is made by the leading aviation agencies, the ban will be followed in India too.The test results submitted by the fire safety branch of American Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the ICAO paper concludes that fire in cargo could lead to the loss of the aircraft. The International Civil Aviation Organisation's (ICAO) dangerous goods panel is also examining a paper on "PEDs carried by passengers and crew" that highlights the potential hazard of a fire in an aircraft.The report by the FAA mentions the various test conducted by the agency and suggests that in case of a fire, the fire suppression system of the aircraft is compromised in some cases which might lead to the loss of the aircraft. The report also mentioned that placing the PEDs in the passenger cabin is safer as immediate action can be taken by the crew members in case of a fire accident.Most of the consumer personal electronic devices including mobile phones, tablets and laptops are allowed as both carry-on and checked-in baggage in the aircraft. Power banks, portable chargers and e-cigarettes are banned in checked-in baggage in India.