The United States Bans E-Cigarettes in Checked Luggage

Vapers, take note: It’s now illegal to pack an e-cigarette in your checked luggage or charge an e-cigarette aboard an aircraft, Fortune reports. This week, the U.S. Transportation Department announced the permanent ban of the devices, arguing that, like hoverboards, e-cigarettes are a fire hazard.

According to the Transportation Department, e-cigarettes can burst into flame unexpectedly, and have done so already on several flights. Ironically, the smokeless cigarettes don’t even use flame to transmit nicotine, instead using vaporized liquid. But the devices are prone to overheating, which can start fires. The officials also claim that the tendency to make modifications to e-cigarettes, adding custom parts or tinkering with the devices, makes them more prone to fire.

Fortunately for e-cigarette aficionados, the devices aren’t being banned from flights completely. Passengers may still pack e-cigarettes in their carry-on luggage, so long as they do not charge or smoke them aboard the airplane.

"Fire hazards in flight are particularly dangerous, and a number of recent incidents have shown that e-cigarettes in checked bags can catch fire during transport," U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said. "Banning e-cigarettes from checked bags is a prudent and important safety measure."

[h/t Fortune]