Lithium Battery Cargo Barred From Airliners

Shipments of rechargeable lithium batteries will no longer be allowed on certain aircraft because of their safety risk. The International Civil Aviation Organization said the ban—effective April 1—is because the batteries could cause large fires, destroying passenger planes. Lithium-ion batters are used in cellphones, laptops, and some electric cars, but the ban doesn't apply to batteries already packaged inside equipment (like a laptop). The aviation council’s president said Monday that the cargo will be prohibited until a new packaging standard can be established, which likely won’t happen until 2018.