Many people carry their laptops onto planes as is, but soon it might be a mandatory part of traveling with them. The FAA is considering banning laptops from checked bags since they reportedly pose a considerable fire risk.
Laptops contain lithium batteries, and if those overheat next to an aerosol spray can it could disable the system that the plane uses to suppress fires. If that system is disabled and a fire breaks out, there will be some issues.
The FAA did some simulation tests that showed how quickly fires could break out and spread in this situation. They added that those fires most likely would not take down the planes completely, but that the damage would be catastrophic.
They have proposed a ban on checking laptops and other offending electronics, which will be reviewed in a meeting with the U.N.’s International Civil Aviation Organization.
