U.S. to Ban In-Cabin Laptops on Flights from Europe

The US Department of Homeland Security is considering a ban on laptops and other large electronic devices from carry-on luggage for flights coming into the country from Europe because of security concerns. In addition, the Trump administration is reviewing measures to prevent lithium-ion batteries stored in airplane cargo holds from combusting, Reuters reports.

The proposed laptop ban was first reported by The Daily Beast, which cited European security officials. DHS spokesperson David Lapan later took to Twitter to clarify that no final decision has been made yet.

“No final decisions made on expanding the restriction on large electronic devices in aircraft cabins; however, it is under consideration. DHS continues to evaluate the threat environment and will make changes when necessary to keep air travelers safe,” Lapan tweeted.

A ban on carry-on laptops is already in place for US-bound flights from 10 airports located in Middle Eastern and North African countries, including Morocco, the UAE, Qatar, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. The prohibition was implemented in March due to fears and possible intelligence that terrorists have discovered a way to conceal powerful bombs within laptops and tablets and manually detonate them. The United Kingdom quickly followed suit and passed a ban on large electronic devices on select flights from Middle Eastern countries. The UK announced that it was in close contact with the US government and intelligence agencies, prompting speculation about possible threats involving large electronic devices.

Last year, for instance, a sophisticated bomb concealed within a laptop made it past airport X-rays and exploded mid-flight on a Somali passenger jet, injuring two, though it did not down the flight. The DHS website cites such concerns and terrorist propaganda encouraging “tactics to circumvent aviation security” as the primary impetus behind its ban.

If the US expands its laptop ban to include European countries, the move could affect flights from the UK to the US, one European security official told Reuters, as well as major US carriers like Delta, American Airlines, and United Airlines.

DHS officials plan to meet with airline industry officials on Thursday to discuss security issues, which ostensibly include expanding the laptop ban to European flights. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly will also meet with senators on Thursday for a classified security briefing that will cover aviation concerns.

Though the DHS has yet to make final determinations on which flights the laptop restrictions would extend to, Lapan reminded reporters on Tuesday that an expansion of the laptop ban is “likely”.

Even if laptops and other electronic devices larger than smartphones are banned from carry-on, a scenario in which hundreds of lithium-ion batteries are checked-in and stored in airplane cargo holds during long-haul flights poses another set of safety concerns. According to the FAA, dozens of fires were caused by personal electronic devices during flights in 2016 alone, many of which were put out by flight attendants using fire extinguishers. If poorly deactivated lithium-ion batteries explode in airplane cargo holds, however, the fear is that they could spark fires that are very difficult to reach and manage.

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