A new Federal law prohibits airline passengers from packing electronic cigarettes or any battery-operated smoking device in their checked baggage on commercial flights.
Since 2009, there have been over 25 incidents of e-cigarettes causing explosions or fires, including several where the devices where packed in luggage according to the Department of Transportation.
A notice from the Transportation Department’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration reads in part, “E-cigarettes in checked bags present a safety risk because the devices are capable of generating extreme heat and an incident can result in the ignition of nearby contents,” the notice continued. “Carriage of e-cigarettes in the passenger cabin addresses this safety risk by ensuring that if an incident does occur, it can be immediately identified and mitigated.”
Electronic cigarettes will still be allowed in carry-on bags; however, passengers can not recharge devices while on the aircraft. E- cigarettes are also included in the no smoking ban on flights in the U.S.