Travelers will need to rethink where they stash their gadgets.
Following a recent travel safety alert, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is reminding passengers that electric toothbrushes and other devices with lithium batteries must be packed in carry-on luggage only.
The reminder aligns with a recent alert from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) emphasizing the risks of lithium batteries in the cargo hold. Both agencies point to the same risk: lithium batteries can ignite without warning. If that happens in the cabin, crews can respond quickly. If it happens in the cargo hold, nobody can get to it until the plane lands.
The guidance may sound narrow, but it covers more than toothbrushes. Phones, laptops, tablets, and spare batteries all fall under the same rule. The FAA is urging passengers to keep them in places where they’re easy to reach during a flight.
According to a TSA spokesperson who spoke with People Magazine, the safety measure is a precaution and not a response to any specific incident. Lithium battery fires are rare, but when they happen at altitude, they can spread fast. The safety measure is meant to keep them where they can be contained.
Sources: People, Scripps News