Top US airlines ban hoverboards over fire concerns

The three leading US airline groups have announced a ban on so-called hoverboards, saying their batteries present an unacceptable fire hazard.
American, Delta and United airlines say the ban will apply to checked and carry-on luggage on all flights.

A US government agency is investigating the two-wheeled scooters after receiving at least 10 reports of fires.

Other airlines have already banned the skateboard-like device, which is a popular gift item this holiday season.

JetBlue, Alaska, Virgin American, Hawaiian, Spirit and Allegiant have all previously banned hoverboards, and Southwest is having internal discussions on how best to handle the devices.

Delta has said that the self-balancing scooters often use batteries that exceed the wattage allowed on planes and are often poorly labelled.
The lithium ion batteries used in the devices are common in devices like phones, laptops and toys.

On Thursday, a 15-year-old riding a hoverboard died in a crash with a bus in London. And in September, a man used one of the devices during the robbery of a crate of energy drinks from a convenience store in south London.

British authorities have become alarmed by the devices, and have seized more than 15,000 of them at ports and airports in the UK in recent weeks.