San Jose State University student Maxim Segalov was charged this morning with interfering with a flight crew.....
Segalov willingly turned over the lighter and batteries to crew members and made no threats.
So exactly what was the nature of the 'interference' then ?
"If you're lighting a cigarette lighter on an airplane, anything can catch on fire. Once you get a fire on an aircraft, it's kind of a spooky thing."
Ah, fine in-depth analysis from the FBI.
(There may be no scientific evidence for it, but IME heating a battery - even just rubbing it in your hands - does seem to resusicitate it slightly. Ditto for ballpoint pens.)
Look for cigarette lighters to become a 'prohibited item'.