ICAO bans e-cigarettes from checked baggage

The International Civil Aviation Organization has moved to prohibit passengers and crew from carrying e-cigarettes in checked baggage, due to the risk of fire.

According to ICAO Council President Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, several fires have been reported as a result of heating elements within the devices becoming accidentally activated. The requirement, which went into effect yesterday, also prohibits recharging the devices in aircraft cabins.

The ICAO first advised its member states of potential safety issues related to e-cigarettes last December, when they were encouraged to recommend to airlines that passengers be required to carry such devices in the cabin and not in checked baggage.