NEW YORK – Stun gun maker Taser International Inc. (TASR) Monday said it won U.S. government approval to use its products on some commercial airline flights to protect passengers from potential harm.
The company's shares rose as much as 10.3 percent on the Nasdaq. They recently traded up $4.01, or 8.6 percent, at $50.50, after earlier rising to $51.30.
Taser, based in Scottsdale, Ariz., said the Department of Homeland Security's (search) Transportation Security Administration (search) approved a "major international airline's application" to let specially trained personnel use Taser conducted energy weapons on flights to and from the United States.
Tom Smith, president of Taser, said in a statement the approval is the first to allow the personnel to use Taser technology on U.S. commercial flights.
Taser did not identify the airline or how many orders for its products may have been placed. The company did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Last Thursday, Taser said it would split its stock 2-for-1 on Nov. 29 — its third stock split this year — to increase its shares' liquidity. The shares have more than quadrupled in the last year, having closed one year ago at a split-adjusted $10.37.
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