More airlines are taking a stand against hoverboards.
On the same day that reports surfaced about British Airways banning hoverboards over potential fire hazards aboard their flights Thursday, the three largest airlines in the United States followed suit.
Buzzfeed is reporting that Delta, United Airlines, and American Airlines have all banned hoverboards from being brought onto their respective flights due to fire hazard concerns as well, effective immediately. Hoverboards are listed under banned items on their respective websites as of Thursday.
Buzzfeed also reported that in addition to British Airways, Jet Blue, Hawaiian Airlines, Virgin America, Spirit Airlines, Allegiant Air and Alaska Airlines had already installed bans of the hands-free segways as well.
"Poorly labeled, powerful lithium-ion batteries powering hoverboards are the issue," Delta wrote in a press release statement on its website Thursday. "Delta reviewed hoverboard product specifications and found that manufacturers do not consistently provide detail about the size or power of their lithium-ion batteries. This investigation revealed devices often contain battery varieties above the government mandated 160 watt hour limit permitted aboard aircraft. While occurrences are uncommon, these batteries can spontaneously overheat and pose a fire hazard risk."
Compounding the issue of the lithium-ion batteries that power the devices is the fact that these hoverboards have several manufacturers, each using a variation of wiring and machinery. Airlines not knowing how they're built only casts more doubt.
This news also comes after a video of a hoverboard catching fire inside a Washington shopping mall went viral on social media networks last week.
