The FAA confirms that tracking devices are safe after Lufthansa banned and then unbanned them from checked luggage.

B.A. in Journalism & Public Relations with minor in Communications Media from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)

German airline Lufthansa is not banning activated Apple AirTags from checked luggage.

The company, which tweeted(Opens in a new window) over the weekend that it was "banning activated AirTags from luggage as they are classified as dangerous and need to be turned off," has reversed course and announced that the popular tracking devices are allowed on its flights.

"The German Aviation Authorities (Luftfahrtbundesamt) confirmed today, that they share our risk assessment, that tracking devices with very low battery and transmission power in checked luggage do not pose a safety risk," the airline tweeted(Opens in a new window) on Wednesday. "With that, these devices are allowed on Lufthansa flights."

The U-turn came just before the US Federal Aviation Administration officially decreed that AirTags do not pose a danger when packed in checked suitcases.

"Luggage tracking devices powered by lithium metal cells that have 0.3 grams or less of lithium can be used on checked baggage," the FAA said in a statement published by The Points Guy(Opens in a new window) . "Apple AirTags meet this threshold, other luggage tracking devices may not."

AirTags, which communicate with other Apple devices over Bluetooth, is powered by a CR2032 "button cell"; common among wristwatches and key fobs, the coin-sized battery contains 0.1 grams of lithium metal.

Some of the confusion, according to The Points Guy, lies in the complicated web of international offices overseeing air carriers—including the EU's version of the FAA: the European Aviation Safety Agency. As of Tuesday, EASA said it did not ban AirTags, and any Lufthansa restrictions would have been the airline's decision.

"The regulation does not in itself ban or allow devices such as Apple AirTags," EASA told TPG. "It is the responsibility of operators to prohibit the use of devices which could adversely affect the flight safety or the aircraft's systems."

There are no known instances of AirTags catching fire on a plane (or anywhere), and no other major airlines have banned the Apple accessories.

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B.A. in Journalism & Public Relations with minor in Communications Media from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)

Reporter at The Frederick News-Post (2008-2012)

Reporter for PCMag and Geek.com (RIP) (2012-present)

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