Published Tuesday, September 07, 2010 7:01 AM

Montana plane crash revives 'lap child' debate

Associated Press

HELENA, Mont. -- Federal transportation safety officials are using the crash of an overloaded plane in Montana to revive a debate about whether infants and toddlers should be allowed to travel on the laps of adults.

The National Transportation Safety Board is asking the Federal Aviation Administration to require children under 2 to be in separate seats and restraints.

A 10-seater plane crashed in Butte in March 2009, killing all 14 people aboard, including 7 children.

The FAA says it will look at the new recommendation. In the past, it has said the cost of buying an extra airline ticket could force some families with small children to take to the highways instead of the skies, which would result in even more child injuries and deaths.

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