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FAA Data Shows Exploding Batteries Are Rare, Small Risk

ericatcw writes "While the US government is intent on adding new rules around the shipment and carrying of Lithium-Ion batteries on passenger and cargo planes, data from its own Federal Aviation Agency show that the risk of being on an airplane where someone — not necessarily you — suffers a minor injury due to a battery is only one in 28 million, reports Computerworld, which analyzed the data (skip to the chart here) using the free Tableau Public data visualization service. Getting killed in a car accident, by contrast, is 4,300 times more likely. Opponents say the rules could raise the cost of shopping online and add hassles for fliers and consumers."

6 of 183 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Sanity by ScrewMaster · · Score: 5, Funny

    How many unruly passengers would be pacified by the plane's WiFi?

    Gas masks for the cabin crew, and a cylinder of knockout gas for the passengers would be just as effective, and would avoid the monthly service charges.

    --
    The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
  2. Re:Sanity by Cryacin · · Score: 3, Funny

    At least I could sleep on the plane for once. Sign me up!

    --
    Science advances one funeral at a time- Max Planck
  3. Re:Not the Problem by shermo · · Score: 4, Funny

    I was going to mod you down, but then I saw you used the correct homonym "you're" so I couldn't bring myself to do it.

    --
    Insanity: voting in the same two parties over and over again and expecting different results
  4. Re:Perspective. by interkin3tic · · Score: 4, Funny

    Getting killed in a car accident, by contrast, is 4,300 times more likely.

    That is probably very close to the same odds as being on a plane targeted by terrorists; look how calmly we are responding to that threat.

    Furthermore, we've banned terrorists from getting onto planes, but have we banned people from driving cars on the plane???

  5. research by commodoresloat · · Score: 4, Funny

    Of course, do your research first.

    I did my research; I read the summary on slashdot!

  6. Re:Sanity by vivian · · Score: 3, Funny

    OMG he said the B word in the same sentence as mentioning an aircraft. He must be planning to bow something up. Quick - arrest him & throw him in Gotmo!

    Is it just me or has our society reached an unprecedented level of paranoia? with a 1 in 28 million chance of being on a flight with an exploding battery, does that mean there are more than 28 million flights since we started flying with these batteries, and in all that time there has been only one incident? Seems like a hell of a lot of flights - there's probably a better chance of someone tripping over carrying a cup of water and causing a short in some wiring or something.