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To be fair, a laptop battery contains as much energy as a small grenade. I think the fact that no terrorist organization has exploited this really speaks volume
by ouid 10y ago
To be fair, a laptop battery contains as much energy as a small grenade. I think the fact that no terrorist organization has exploited this really speaks volumes of their lack of resources, and the effectiveness of alternative security measures.
- dv_dt 10y agoAren't they then just as dangerous in the cargo compartment in checked luggage?
- peterwwillis 10y agoNot as dangerous by itself as you can't just hold it up to a window or wall. But possibly more so, because you can also pack liquid explosives, flash paper, carbon-packed clothing, compressed gases, etc in checked luggage.
- electic 10y agoIt is. You can find a list of crashes because of a fire in the cargo hold here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_accidents_and_incidents_involving_commercial_aircraft https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_accidents_and_incident... Search for "cargo hold" to see the number of planes that have gone down due to an event in the cargo hold. This ban is simple, it is to hurt DBX air carriers which EU and US air carriers have complained about for a long time. DBX based air carriers have newer planes, better service, better food, and shorter legs. This eats into first class and business class revenue of major EU and US carriers.
- detritus 10y agoI've wondered this myself as well - in my mind, 'all' one need do is pierce a fully-charged iPad and then aim the resultant jet of flame at a plane window, and like a violin, a well-publicised fear-inducing terrorist event at worst, or a downed plane at best.
- detritus 10y agoWhy the -2? - ed I gotta say, -1's are really negative when not backed up by an explanation - it's not like i've said something horrible that's not been since-repeated a couple of times by other people here.
- deleted 10y ago[deleted]
- fredley 10y agoOr alternatively the threat of international terrorism has been grossly overestimated.
- king_magic 10y agoI think the threat of domestic terrorism on US flights is probably overestimated (and I think a lot of domestic TSA is bordering on security theater), but I don't feel the same flying internationally. I trust everyone far, far, far less; and for me, I consider the extra security layers a welcome addition.
- fredley 10y agoStatistically speaking, the chance of a terrorist event on an international flight is much lower. The 9/11 flights were all domestic. Humans are terrible at evaluating risk objectively.
- king_magic 10y agoCare to share your statistics? Not saying you're wrong, but since 9/11, I can't think of a single terrorist incident on an entirely domestic US flight, whereas I can think of several attempts/successes on international flights.
- deleted 10y ago[deleted]
- badsock 10y agoThe correct response to terrorism is courage, not extra layers of security.
- king_magic 10y agoI think a blend of both is appropriate. I'm just being pragmatic, and people can downvote me all they want, but the reality is I trust the magic of courage just as much as I trust faith in a magical sky being.
- lb1lf 10y agoOr, perhaps, it simply goes to show that finding people bright enough to outwit security and still being willing to blow themselves up is HARD.
- yason 10y agoI've been thinking about the same since 9/11. While they comb through small liquids and nail files in all cabin baggage I can walk into a plane with several Ampere-hours of tightly packed energy in my backpack.
- wyldfire 10y agoThe number of people in the world who are willing to execute schemes that would kill innocents is very small. Sadly, there is likely nothing we could ever do to stop those who are truly committed to this goal. Sadder still is the fact that the null reaction is considered unacceptable by politicians and constituents alike.
- alsadi 10y agoWhay specify specific airlines if it's a security measure? If it's good for dubia's security it should be good for irish or Cyprus or Sicily