Airlines are banning hoverboards from flights after fires trigger safety concerns

Hoverboards have gone from a hot gift this holiday season to literally the hottest gift this month as regulators are investigating reports of the batteries catching on fire, raising safety concerns about the devices.

British Airways and Delta have responded by restricting the electric scooters from their flights. And the US Consumer Product Safety Commission is currently investigating at least 10 hoverboard fires in five states.

Hoverboards are generally being sold by little-known companies and brands that buy them from Chinese factories, making it more challenging for consumers to know what model to trust.

“We want to get to the bottom of what's going on with these products,” said commission spokeswoman Patty Davis.

The organisation started receiving reports in August of emergency-room trips as consumers suffered injuries after falling off the self-balancing scooters. But reports of fires also began to emerge - some of which have happened while the devices are charging. Several of these incidents were caught on video. And now safety experts are warning that some manufacturers may be cutting corners to meet demand for the popular toy this holiday season.

Hoverboards, which are like skateboards that move as a rider leans one way or the other, can cost as little as $200. Celebrities from Justin Bieber to Wiz Khalifa have posted videos of themselves on devices, which helped popularize them. In general, the hoverboards rely on rechargeable lithium batteries, which have raised concerns for airlines in the past.