The Department of Homeland Security may be expanding its notebook ban, forbidding notebooks in the cabins of all flights from Europe to the United States. News of the expanded ban, which could be announced as soon as Thursday, came from European security officials.
Passengers flying from Europe to the United States may need to store their computers in their checked luggage. The Department of Homeland Security has yet to announce a final decision on this matter, with Security Secretary John Kelly planning to discuss the matter with senators in a classified briefing on Thursday.
The DHS offered the following comment:
“No final decisions have been 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.”
The notebook and tablet in-cabin ban was first announced in March. The ban stemmed from intelligence suggesting terrorists had discovered a way to turn notebooks into bombs. At the time, the ban only applied to passengers flying to the United States from Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Morocco, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. That first ban is still in place.
While the unnamed source told The Daily Beast that notebooks would be banned on all flights from Europe, Reuters stated the ban will only include “some European countries.” As of now, it’ thought that the government is reviewing how to ensure that lithium batteries stored in luggage holds don’t explode before enacting the ban.
Such a ban could impact several airlines that offer European flight options, including United Airlines, Delta, and American Airlines. Airports and airlines in Europe have reportedly already been working on plans for an extension of the ban since it was first announced.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via MacRumors, The Daily Beast and Reuters