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A controlled explosion in the luggage hold of an aircraft was successfully contained by a bomb-proof lining developed by an international team of scientists. The technology shows how a plane's luggage hold may be able to contain the force of an explosion if a device hidden in an item of luggage detonates. The Fly-Bag is made from multiple layers of fabrics and composites that have high strength and impact, and heat resistance. The fabrics include Aramid, a heat-resistant and strong synthetic fiber used in the aerospace industry, as well as in ballistic body armor.

A new system to resist terrorist bombs smuggled onto aircraft has been tested in dramatic experiments. A device called FlyBag is designed to absorb the shockwaves and shrapnel caused by explosions. If security fails and a bomb reaches the luggage hold, the idea is that the blast would be safely contained. The trials - using old jets at Cotswolds Airport in Gloucestershire - showed that explosions on board caused no damage. The bag involves a novel mix of four different layers of material including one based on Kevlar, which is used in bullet-proof jackets. The idea is that the bag...

An international team of scientists has incorporated a shear thickening fluid (STF) into a bag to protect planes from bombs in passenger luggage.The bag, named the Fly-Bag, is designed to be filled with passenger luggage and then placed in the hold. Then, if there were a bomb in the luggage somewhere - and it exploded during the flight - the resulting blast would be absorbed by the bag, preventing damage to the plane.  Passenger luggage represents an ongoing risk STFs are unusual in that they increase in viscosity in response to impact. It is possible to make a simple STF...