this post was submitted on 18 Oct 2024
227 points (97.5% liked)

World News

39151 readers
2002 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News !news@lemmy.world

Politics !politics@lemmy.world

World Politics !globalpolitics@lemmy.world


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

Counter-terrorism police are investigating whether Russian spies planted an incendiary device on a plane to Britain that later caught fire at a DHL warehouse in Birmingham, the Guardian can reveal.

Nobody was reported injured in the fire on 22 July at a warehouse in the suburb of Minworth that handles parcels for delivery, and the blaze was dealt with by the local fire brigade and by staff.

The parcel is believed to have arrived at the DHL warehouse by air, though it is not known if it was a cargo or passenger aircraft, nor where it was destined for. There could have been serious consequences if it had ignited during the flight.

A similar incident occurred in Germany, also in late July, when a suspect package bound for a flight caught fire at another DHL facility in Leipzig, and investigators are looking at links between the two. German authorities warned this week that had the parcel caught fire mid-air it could have downed the plane.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] tal 3 points 1 month ago (3 children)

I don't think that we have a great way of dealing with cargo hold fires today, which is why you have to carry laptops as carry-on, rather than as checked luggage in the cargo hold.

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/one-overheated-laptop-battery-in-cargo-hold-could-down-airliner-study-says/

One overheated laptop battery in cargo hold could down airliner, study says

A single personal electronic device that overheats and catches fire in checked luggage on an airliner can overpower the aircraft’s fire-suppression system, potentially creating a fire that could rage uncontrolled, according to new government research.

Regulators had thought that single lithium-battery fires would be knocked down by the flame-retardant gas required in passenger airliner cargo holds. But tests conducted by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration found the suppression systems can’t extinguish a battery fire that combines with other highly flammable material, such as the gas in an aerosol can or cosmetics commonly carried by travelers.

The research highlights the growing risks of lithium batteries, which are increasingly used to power everything from mobile phones to gaming devices. Bulk shipments of rechargeable lithium batteries have been banned on passenger planes.

[–] TheEighthDoctor@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I think you can depressurize the cargo hold, of course every pet there would die but the fire would die as well.

[–] tal 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I thought of that, but I don't think it's an option. From reading about past air disasters -- one of which involved depressurization of the cargo hold that turned into a cascading failure of the plane -- my understanding is that the pressurized area includes both the cabin and cargo area. The plane isn't structurally designed to depressurize the cargo area while keeping the cabin pressurized.

[–] TheEighthDoctor@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

I read more about it after your comment and it seems I was confused, it's not depressurization it's cutting off the airflow to starve the fire of oxygen and release of Halon 1301, keeping it's concentration at a certain level. At least in Boeing aircraft, I didn't find Airbus documentation.

[–] babybus@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I think most major airlines in Europe actually allow you to check in your personal electronic devices, although there are some restrictions. Cargo compartments are equipped with fire detectors and fire suppression systems. Your flight is more than likely to land safely in case if that happens, even though that might require an emergency landing at the nearest airport.

[–] Blumpkinhead@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

I'd just like to add that smart bags (that have lithium batteries for charging devices) also pose this risk. They've become more popular with travelers over the past few years.

If you use one of these, please be sure to remove the battery before checking your bag!