Europe regulator says airlines' tech ban may compromise safety

Europe's aviation regulator voiced concern Wednesday over the risk of battery fires in the cargo holds of passenger planes after US and British authorities banned certain electronics from passenger cabins despite US assurances that its agency had been thoroughly briefed on the proper handling of electronics. EASA said personal electronic devices carried a fire risk due to their lithium batteries and should preferably be carried inside passenger cabins so that any problems could be identified and dealt with. In regard to the European agency's concerns, the US TSA said it had "coordinated closely with the FAA" on the logistics of the ban and that the agency had provided information to airlines regarding appropriate handling of electronics and lithium batteries. <br/>