Tourists are informed of the ban on a particular fruit in aircrafts because of the possibility of spontaneous ignition. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have placed a particular food item in its most recent list of prohibited items on flights, which highlights an issue with regards to health and safety. While passengers are able to carry whole coconuts both in their checked and carry-on luggage however, this restriction is only applicable on the coconut dried flesh also known as copra in the flesh of the fruit. Copra is a rich source of oil can be deemed to be extremely flammable, and therefore is a risk to fire. This leads to its being excluded from both baggage checked and carry-on bags on many airlines. Only one exemption is granted the retail packaging of coconut products.

Dry coconut is classified in the IATA as an IATA Class 4 hazardous Good that means it’s an ignitable solid. The classification places dried coconut with other potentially hazardous products such as firelighters, matches, powders, as well as sodium batteries. The classification of IATA highlights the possible hazards associated with the transport of these items.

The group works with local government officials as well as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to develop efficient and practical regulations regarding the transportation of hazardous products. Its IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) manual is the most comprehensive guideline to the transport of hazardous substances and is the only one accepted by airlines. It is also the source for information on how to handle hazardous materials. Civil Aviation Authority also lists high-inflammable coconut meat in the prohibited substances from carry-on baggage.

Source: express.co.uk