A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer is credited with preventing a major mishap at the Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport when a bag caught on fire.
A passenger at the security checkpoint noticed smoke emitting from a piece of luggage and yelled for help, WSAV-TV reported.
In the July 20, TSA Officer Darrell Wade then grabbed the bag and took it to a safe area in the airport, the report stated.
Officials determined that a vape battery malfunctioned, causing the fire. The fire didn’t damage any of the airport equipment.
“The battery caught fire, and the bag started smoking real quick,” Mark Howell, regional spokesman for the TSA, told the Island Packet. The heat melted a hole in the bag, he said.
Battery-powered e-cigarettes, vape pens, and similar devices are allowed in carry-on bags, according to the TSA. However, they aren’t allowed in checked luggage.
The TSA said that the devices should be taken out of bags and checked at the security gate.
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