UK likely to ban large electronic devices on flights from some Muslim countries

It is being speculated that the United States (US) authorities are planning to ban passengers travelling from certain Muslim countries to the US, from carrying into the cabin larger electronic devices. The ban is being imposed due to an unspecified terrorist threat, as elaborated by unnamed US officials on Monday.

According to the same source, the ban on some electronics is believed to be related to Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. The new rule might come into effect as early as Monday night but so far the news has not been confirmed by the Department of Homeland Security. It was also revealed that the rule had been under consideration for weeks when the US government learnt of an imminent threat.

According to the new rule, foreign airlines flying from about a dozen Muslim countries will be affected including airlines based in Jordan and Saudi Arabia. The names of other countries were not released but it is expected that 13 Muslim countries will make that list.

When the rule comes into effect, passengers from those countries will not be allowed to carry electronic devices larger than a cell phone. All laptops, DVD players, games and tablets etc. will have to be checked into luggage.

AFP adds that “a tweet from Saudi Airlines and one – subsequently deleted – by Royal Jordanian airlines informed their customers of an imminent cabin ban on electronic devices larger than a cell phone. It said all such devices – including laptops, tablets, cameras, DVD players and electronic games – would need to be checked in under new US government rules coming into force March 21. The tweet was later removed amid suggestions the airline had released the information prematurely.”

Meanwhile the Whitehouse has declined to comment on the matter.

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Posted by fatimaarshad on Mar 21 2017. Filed under Latest News, World. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.