Citing in-flight fire hazards, the United States Department of Transportation has issued a ban on e-cigarettes, vape pens, and  similar electronic smoking devices in all checked baggage of passengers and airline crew effective immediately.

The DOT rule  likewise prohibits passengers and airline staff from charging their e-cigarette batteries on board the aircraft as part of its precautionary measures against fire-related incidents.

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"We know from recent incidents that e-cigarettes in checked baggage can catch fire during transport," Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement on the new federal rule.

The interim final rule (IFR) issued by the transportation agency on Tuesday amended the existing regulatory ban on smoking tobacco products by including the use of battery-operated e-cigarettes and other smoking devices, to avoid confusion among the passengers and crew members.

The directive explicitly prohibits "passengers and crew members from carrying battery-operated portable electronic smoking devices in checked baggage that include e-cigarettes, e-cigs, e-cigars, e-pipes, personal vaporizers, vape pens, and electronic nicotine delivery systems."

The IFR likewise strictly prohibits passengers and airline staff from charging their e-cigarette batteries on board the aircraft.

The DOT defines an e-cigarette as "a battery-powered device that simulates tobacco smoking by producing a heated vapor, which resembles smoke."

Although the directive allows passengers to bring e-cigarettes in their carry-on baggage or pockets, they cannot use them during the flight.

The rule does not apply to passengers carrying batteries in their checked baggage such as batteries of certain personal gadgets like laptop computers, phones, and cameras.

"Fire hazards in flight are particularly dangerous. Banning e-cigarettes from checked bags is a prudent safety measure," Foxx said.

More than two dozen in-flight fire incidents since 2009 have been caused by e-cigarettes and other electronic smoking devices packed in checked baggage in airplanes.

Foxx hopes that with the new federal rule, in-flight fire incidents will be tremendously prevented.

Tagse-cigarettes fire, Department of Transportation, e-cigarette ban, e-cigarette in plane