An official with the Civil Aeronau-tics Administration (CAA) said yesterday that airborne lanterns were banned around Taipei's Sungshan Airport due to safety concerns.
CAA lists lanterns as objects that may threaten aviation safety, the official said.
The CAA has cautioned all domestic flights taking off and landing at Sungshan airport of the risk of bumping into flying lanterns, the official added.
However, areas near CKS International Airport have not been banned from having floating lanterns since the airport is far away from Taipei County's Pinghsi, the main area where airborne lanterns are released during the Lantern Festival, the official said.
News reports last week said Malaysia had banned the release of hot-air lanterns after they disrupted 12 flights at Penang International Airport.
Malaysian Police chief Norian Mai said the lanterns, made of bamboo and oilpaper and fuelled by kerosene, could reach a height of 1,800m and would cause an aircraft to explode if sucked into its engine.
"The decision was made based solely on the safety aspect, Norian was quoted as saying by the Sun newspaper last Friday.
"It not only causes inconvenience to aircraft, but also to vehicles," he said.
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