Air travellers should avoid putting certain types of batteries into their checked luggage.
According to Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), some batteries, including lithium batteries which are used to power laptops, phones, iPods and cameras, should be carried in hand luggage rather than stored in the aircraft’s hold.
This is because, in certain conditions, these batteries could be more likely to start a fire thanks to the higher level of energy contained within them. Older-style batteries such as dry-cell batteries or rechargeable ones contain far less energy, so are less of a risk.
CASA’s Director of Aviation Safety John McCormick told the Independent, “As these batteries have the potential to short circuit and burn under certain conditions, the preference is to have them carried in the cabin by passengers where the risk can be better managed.”
Read more information about batteries and air travel at the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s website, www.casa.gov.au/dg
(Image: John Seb Barber)
