Watch Out For Promotional Items That Are Dangerous Goods

Southwest Airlines was fined $70,000 for knowingly accepting a box as checked baggage. The contents of the box was 20 smaller boxes of 50 cigarette lighters totaling 1000 lighters. Southwest Airlines received the fine, rather then the passenger, as the FAA stated that the box was clearly marked "lighters" when it was accepted as baggage. The issue of concern is the effectiveness of employee training and being able to identify hazardous materials that could be brought onto non-hazardous material carriers. Southwest Airlines is a non-hazardous materials carrier.