DWT sites: DWT | Gadget Shop! | WeTokyo Friendfinder | Jobs | Eigo Factory | Make your iPhone App Big in Japan


Laptop fire at airport probably result of bad battery
September 24th, 2006

060830_macsonybat.jpg

A Lenovo laptop computer that burst into flames at Los Angeles International Airport last Saturday was most likely the result of a defective Sony battery, according to Lenovo spokesman Ray Gorman.

“We can confirm that laptop was a Thinkpad T43 with a Sony battery — the same Sony battery that was subject to the recent recalls [by Dell and Apple],” he said.

According to Sony, the defect in those batteries is caused by a short circuit that occurs when microscopic metal particles break through the lithium ion cell wall and make contact with a battery anode.

“Our first priority is public safety, so we’re taking this incident very seriously,” Gorman said. “We’re investigating it thoroughly.”

Within 12 hours of the incident, Lenovo had a team at the airport. They took the notebook and flew it to the Lenovo lab in Japan.

“We should know more about this in the next couple of days,” Gorman said. “But the investigation will take another 24 to 48 hours and then we will do whatever is in the best interests of our customers.”

Linda Rosencrance

01:37 PM Mark Hiratsuka • Permalink
Add a comment | More DWT | Get a cool job in Japan! | Follow us on Twitter

Date much?


Japanese gadgets from Tokyo Zakka!Perfect gifts for your nerdiest friends back home!

C'mon - let's hear it...

Spammers beware: Any links in comments to commercial websites will be treated as paid advertising and will be charged at rate of $10 per link per day. Invoices will be sent to the idiots who hire you for so-called SEO jobs. All you good people will always keep it real, of course - thanks!

Support Our Sponsors: