Hawaii sues Takata

HONOLULU: The state of Hawaii is suing Japanese manufacturer Takata over defective airbags they say threaten peoples’ lives. The lawsuit filed on Friday in the First Circuit Court of Hawaii also names auto manufacturer Honda. Millions of Takata’s defective airbags have been recalled because their inflators can explode, spewing shrapnel in cars. Hawaii is the first state in the nation to sue over the airbags, which are blamed for at least 11 deaths worldwide and more than 100 injuries. Independent reports have concluded that a chemical used in Takata airbags — ammonium nitrate — can degrade when exposed to heat and humidity, which can trigger explosions.