An airline company based in India has banned luggage which has inbuilt technology to power up electronic devices.
Jet Airways made the move amid fears that 'smart' luggage with non-removable batteries could potentially catch fire on board aircraft, leading to catastrophe.
Smart bags/smart luggage include devices with integrated lithium batteries, motors, power banks, GPS, GSM, Bluetooth, RFID or Wi-Fi technology. Since lithium batteries are likely to heat up and sometimes even explode, bags with a lithium battery will only be accepted if it is possible to remove the battery.
The move which has come into effect immediately has been ordered after the International Air Transport Association (IATA) banned any such baggage on passenger aircraft across the world.
The IATA recently announced that its Dangerous Goods Board restricted carrying smart luggage on passenger flights operated by its 275 member-airlines from January 15.
A Jet Airways spokesman said: "In accordance with the regulations issued by the IATA towards ensuring flight safety, smart bags or smart luggage which include devices with non-removable batteries will not be permitted on all our flights.
"Guests checking in smart luggage must uninstall the batteries prior to check-in. Post-removal, batteries can be carried separately in cabin baggage only.”
Several major airline companies now use AvSax fire containment bags in case electronic devices catch fire mid flight.
They are used to deal with burning electronic devices ranging from laptops and mobile phones to e-cigarettes.
They were deployed on aircraft 20 times in 2017.
If an electronic device starts to seriously overheat or emit smoke the cabin crew will pour at least two litres of water into an AvSax and then drop the burning device into the bag, adding additional water as required. The water activates the polymer gel inside the bag causing it to expand around the device. Should the device keep on venting then the AvSax is tough enough to absorb the force.
The AvSax cools the batteries in the device, reducing the likelihood of the battery catching fire but if it does go into what is known as thermal runaway when all the battery cells catch fire at incredibly hot temperatures it is all contained within the bag.
Amazingly, the water is absorbed into the internal lining of the bag so the device is dry when it is removed.