IATA highlights surprising "spontaneous combustion" risk from coconut meat

According to the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) guidelines on dangerous goods, copra is considered a fire risk during air travel. This is because copra, classified under Class 4 hazardous goods, is a flammable solid that could potentially self-ignite or produce flammable gases when it comes into contact with water, posing a significant safety risk onboard.

IATA told the British media:

"Perishable goods (such as fruits, flowers, and vegetables) were among the first commodities carried by air. However, such goods deteriorate over time and under extreme temperatures and humidity and must thus be handled carefully."

"The IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) manual is the global reference for shipping dangerous goods by air and the only standard recognized by airlines."

If passengers do bring flammable items onboard and an unlikely fire occurs, all modern aircraft are equipped with containment measures to mitigate the risk to the flight.

The level of fire protection in commercial aircraft's cargo compartments has been dramatically enhanced, resulting in much safer passenger and cargo flights. The modern commercial fleet is now equipped with three key features outlined by Airbus:

1. Air-tight and fire-proof cargo holds ensure that any fire in the cargo compartment is contained and does not spread to other parts of the aircraft.

2. Cargo fire detection systems are designed to quickly and accurately detect any signs of fire or smoke in the cargo area.

3. Cargo fire suppression systems are activated in case of a fire to suppress and extinguish it.

In conclusion, the seemingly innocuous coconut poses a unique risk to air safety due to the copra within it being classified as a flammable material by IATA. Despite their commonplace nature, the high oil content in coconuts makes them hazardous for air transport, necessitating strict regulations. Advancements in aviation safety technology ensure that such risks are significantly mitigated through airtight cargo holds and sophisticated detection and suppression systems.