New York's MTA is considering a public service announcement that would ask subway riders not to remove Apple AirPods while getting on or off the subway, according to The Wall Street Journal.
In the report, The Wall Street Journal quoted MTA maintenance supervisor Steven Dluginski, who said the MTA uses a "picker-upper thing" to rescue lost AirPods. But, given the summer heat and increased sweat, Dluginski said he has found an uptick in the number of AirPods that have fallen on the tracks.
The Journal said this summer was the "worst" for AirPod rescues and that on just a single summer Thursday at noon, Dluginski's team had to retrieve six of them. It's risky for employees who have to try to pick them up and can cause train delays.
It's also dangerous for riders who might try to rescue AirPods themselves. In July, a rider named Ashley Mayer went viral on Twitter after she retrieved a lost AirPod from the tracks using duct tape at the end of a pole.
Apple AirPods have rocketed in popularity over the last several years for their ease of use, good sound quality and, now, the iconic look.
