3 ms·

Yes, lets put those laptop bombs in the hold.

marcoperaza 9y ago
I believe that US-bound luggage has to go through special screening.
tyingq 9y ago
The amount of explosive you can fit into a laptop (and have it not be obvious) isn't a lot. So it works best if you can place the laptop directly against the hull of the aircraft. Putting it in the hold makes that less likely to happen. So while not optimal, putting them in the hold is an improvement.
- sleepybrett 9y ago
  Hah, have you seen the "gaming" laptops out there, if you even replaces half of the battery with something like c4 it could easily blow a hole in a plane. That said I'm not advocating this ban at all, I think it's yet another in a long series of overreactions. But to imply that it couldn't be done is asinine.
  - tyingq 9y ago
    > to imply that it couldn't be done is asinine That isn't called for. Clearly you disagree, which is fine, but there's no need for a personal attack. Here's what happened with a laptop bomb that was placed against the hull on a Somali flight: http://i2.cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/160203180228-plane-explosion-somalia-forensics-dnt-todd-tsr-00003313-exlarge-169.jpg http://i2.cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/160203180228-plane-... As it happens, it only killed the bomber.
    - cft 9y ago
      They could allow Ultrabooks in the cabin and ban laptops say heavier than 2.5 lbs. They could publish a list of the heavier models that needed to be checked in.
- peterwwillis 9y ago
  I know this comment will probably ensure I get on some kind of "list", but you don't need the laptop itself to be the fuel. It could be an accelerant or fuse, packed between fuel in a large bag, and multiple bags sent. Yes, putting laptops in the hold it is an improvement, assuming your attack vector is intentionally placed small explosives. Randomly placed large explosives, or large explosives placed intentionally by an insider, might be as effective or more so. But I know jack shit about the design of airplanes so I have no idea if this is the case.

I believe that US-bound luggage has to go through special screening.

The amount of explosive you can fit into a laptop (and have it not be obvious) isn't a lot. So it works best if you can place the laptop directly against the hull of the aircraft. Putting it in the hold makes that less likely to happen. So while not optimal, putting them in the hold is an improvement.

sleepybrett 9y ago
Hah, have you seen the "gaming" laptops out there, if you even replaces half of the battery with something like c4 it could easily blow a hole in a plane. That said I'm not advocating this ban at all, I think it's yet another in a long series of overreactions. But to imply that it couldn't be done is asinine.
- tyingq 9y ago
  > to imply that it couldn't be done is asinine That isn't called for. Clearly you disagree, which is fine, but there's no need for a personal attack. Here's what happened with a laptop bomb that was placed against the hull on a Somali flight: http://i2.cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/160203180228-plane-explosion-somalia-forensics-dnt-todd-tsr-00003313-exlarge-169.jpg http://i2.cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/160203180228-plane-... As it happens, it only killed the bomber.
  - cft 9y ago
    They could allow Ultrabooks in the cabin and ban laptops say heavier than 2.5 lbs. They could publish a list of the heavier models that needed to be checked in.
peterwwillis 9y ago
I know this comment will probably ensure I get on some kind of "list", but you don't need the laptop itself to be the fuel. It could be an accelerant or fuse, packed between fuel in a large bag, and multiple bags sent. Yes, putting laptops in the hold it is an improvement, assuming your attack vector is intentionally placed small explosives. Randomly placed large explosives, or large explosives placed intentionally by an insider, might be as effective or more so. But I know jack shit about the design of airplanes so I have no idea if this is the case.