The government has banned the release of floating Chinese hot-air lanterns after they disrupted 12 flights bound for an international airport o­n the tourist island of Penang, police announced today.

Police chief Norian Mai said the lanterns, made of bamboo and oilpaper and fuelled by kerosene, could reach 6,000 feet and would cause an aircraft to explode if sucked into an engine.

"The police action is a pro-active move. There's no need for us to wait for some major disaster to happen before we ban them," Norian said, adding that the floating lanterns were already outlawed in Singapore and Hong Kong.

Thousands of the lanterns launched to mark the eighth day of the Chinese New Year forced air traffic controllers to divert 12 aircraft from their normal approach to the Penang airport o­n Sunday night. AFP