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| iStockphoto.com/Senohrabek |
A new, popular holiday gift has been banned from U.S. airlines. So-called “
hoverboards”—essentially scooters without handles, controlled through body movement—will not be permitted on major US airlines including United, American, Delta, and Jet Blue. This follows a precedent set by other airlines such as British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Lufthansa.
The devices are under scrutiny by consumer safety agencies on account of an apparently increasing number of fires originating in the unit’s lithium ion batteries. Delta
said in a statement that many boards run on batteries above 160 watts, the maximum permitted by law on planes.
