There are several popular items that will inevitably lead to being stopped at airport security, ranging from weaponry and controlled substances to water bottles. Recently, however, an unexpected item has sparked curiosity on the internet regarding its permissibility on flights: coconuts.
According to a spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), coconuts and other solid food items are generally permitted in both checked and carry-on luggage, with specific restrictions for fruits and vegetables originating from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands to prevent the spread of plant pests.
Passengers are advised to allocate additional time for potential extra screening of food items. Internationally, some flight safety administrations impose stricter regulations on coconuts due to the potential risks associated with their contents.
Experts indicate that copra, the technical term for the white fleshy part of a coconut, poses an explosive risk and is classified as a dangerous good by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The IATA classifies copra as a class 4.2 (spontaneously combustible substance) dangerous good, which has led to a ban on many European carriers like Ryanair and EasyJet. Dried copra is particularly hazardous as it is a flammable solid prone to combustion and can emit flammable gasses when in contact with water. Additionally, copra dust can be ignited by a single spark, and its high-fat content increases the risk of self-heating.
Because of these risks, countries like India enforce strict rules for coconuts. For example, at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, dried coconuts make up 9% of confiscated items due to their high oil content, which is highly flammable and poses a fire hazard when exposed to heat within the aircraft.
So can coconuts be classified as a dangerous good? Yes.
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