Liquid restrictions, secured cockpit doors, and battery regulations

Why am I not allowed to carry liquids larger than 100 ml in my carry-on baggage? Why can't my power bank be placed in the checked baggage of the airplane? And why is the cockpit door locked? Discover the role of historical incidents that paved the way for a safer sky.
Transformations triggered by tragedy
Over the past decades, aviation has undergone significant changes in response to historical disasters. From liquid restrictions to battery regulations and closed cockpit doors, these measures are crucial for in-flight safety.
While often viewed as inconveniences, they play a vital role, ensuring the safety of passengers who may not always have the intention of reaching their destination safely during a flight.

1. Explosion hazard
Crafting a bomb kit
The ban on liquids exceeding 100 ml is not purely a commercial decision. In 2006, a group of passengers aimed to carry out nine to twelve attacks on flights from Europe to America using liquid chemicals and iPod components.
During the flight, the terrorists intended to create a bomb using these 'ingredients'. The British police were able to thwart these attacks, and around twenty perpetrators were arrested. These alarming discoveries led to the introduction of strict liquid limits.
“Any traveler could be a potential terrorist”

Preventing liquid explosions
Now you are able to understand the reasoning of these restrictions on liquids, gels, and aerosols in the aircraft cabin which are crucial. The combination of these substances could trigger chemical reactions leading to explosions.
Terrorist attacks linked to liquids are the vectors for these restrictions on possessing large quantities of liquids in the aircraft. Additionally, these restrictions expedite the inspection and identification process of substances during security checks.
2. Fire hazard
Powerbanks and air travel: why they belong in your hand luggage
Beyond well-known liquid rules, another high-priority aviation safety rule involves carrying lithium batteries in hand luggage rather than checked baggage.
Though seemingly minor, there are significant reasons why airlines enforce this rule. Laptops, smartphones, power banks, e-cigarettes, and so on. Nowadays, almost everything contains lithium batteries.

However, these batteries are not always innocent. You are not allowed to place electronic devices containing batteries unprotected in your checked baggage. They must be in your carry-on baggage. But why?
The perpetrator? Lithium batteries!
Once again, we delve into the past, where numerous airplanes had to make emergency landings due to fires caused by lithium batteries in the cargo compartment of the aircraft. In 2010, a Boeing 747 from UPS Airlines crashed due to a fire caused by batteries in the cargo section.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, in 2022, at least 62 incidents occurred that resulted in smoke, fire, or extreme heat caused by lithium batteries in airplanes. All these incidents have led to strict regulations for batteries.
Swift response to issues
Powerbanks, despite being convenient for charging electronic devices on the go, pose a potential fire hazard. Lithium batteries can spontaneously overheat, catch fire, or explode. You might not believe it, but it does happen:
- 2018: On a KLM flight, a passenger's smartphone caught fire after connecting a power bank.
- 2023: On an EasyJet flight, a vape exploded, leading to luggage catching fire in the cabin.
- 2023: On a Scoot flight, a power bank caught fire, filling the cabin with smoke.
…

In cabin, not in cargo
In all these cases, the cabin crew could respond effectively, and as a result, there were no casualties. This is because the lithium batteries were in the cabin, not in the cargo section of the aircraft, providing immediate access for the cabin crew to address the fire.
That is why lithium batteries must always be carried in your hand luggage so that the cabin crew and passengers can monitor and intervene with electronic devices when necessary.

In the cabin, passengers and cabin crew can:
- React quickly
- Extinguish fire or cool batteries
- Monitor and observe

Although it may seem unimportant, storing power banks and lithium batteries in hand luggage is a crucial aspect of aviation safety. It minimizes risks, enables a swift response to emergencies, and contributes to the overall consistency of safety practices at airports worldwide.
3. Hijack prevention
Evolution of cockpit doors
In addition to the liquid restrictions and battery rules, there is a third safety rule high on the list, namely the locking of the cockpit door. We delve into the past to find the cause of this. In the past, the cockpit door was open during the flight, or there was no cockpit door at all.
Passengers could admire and observe the work and technology in the cockpit from a short distance. Until one very disastrous day that permanently changed life and procedures on board the aircraft.
9/11

On September 11, 2001, four passenger planes were hijacked and used as missiles to destroy buildings in the United States. Two of these planes pierced the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, located in New York. A third plane penetrated the Pentagon in Washington.
And a fourth hijacked plane missed its violent purpose and crashed in Pennsylvania. The damage and impact were immense. On that day, just under 3000 people lost their lives. Soon after, the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Behind closed doors
As a result of this series of disastrous hijackings, a standard procedure was implemented since 9/11 to lock the cockpit doors during the flight.
Opening the cockpit door has become a significant safety procedure.

Lessons learned
Now you understand why the cockpit door remains locked during flights, the reasoning behind liquid restrictions, and the importance of safeguarding electronic devices in hand luggage. If you're traveling, ensure the safe storage of your electronic devices in hand luggage.
What may seem like a small step for you makes a substantial difference in ensuring the safety aboard the aircraft.
Safe flight and see you soon!
By: Rico Valkenborgh | February 2nd, 2024
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