Recalled MacBook Pros banned on flights due to fire risk
Laptops with a replaced battery will be allowed on flights and will reportedly not be affected by the ban.
Apple MacBook Pro. Picture: iStock
On Tuesday, Bloomberg reported that the Federal Aviation Administration has banned select MacBook Pros sold from 2015 to 2017 from being taken on airplanes citing potential fire risks – an issue reminiscent of Samsung’s infamous Galaxy Note 7.
In June, Apple recalled a series of old MacBook Pros because their “batter[ies] may overheat and pose a fire safety risk.”
Despite the company offering to replace the affected units’ batteries free of charge, the FAA issued a flight ban to all 15-inch MacBook Pro laptops that were sold between mid-2015 to February 2017.
This ban prevents owners of the laptop from bringing the computers on an airplane in either their carry-on or checked luggage.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7.
At the beginning of this month, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency also issued a warning about said MacBook Pro models; however, the EASA simply required that the devices are switched off while aboard.
On the other hand, according to a Bloomberg source, four airlines – including TUI Group Airlines, whose cargo is taken care of by Total Cargo Expertise- have barred the devices from their units.
A TUI Group Airlines spokesperson was stated that announcements about the MacBook Pros will start taking place at the gate and before takeoff, similarly to how announcements were made by US airlines about Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7.
Laptops with a replaced battery will be allowed on flights and will reportedly not be affected by the ban.
In July, the FAA tweeted a reminder that “recalled batteries don’t fly” — and that goes beyond Samsung’s and Apple’s devices.
#RECALL ALERT: The #FAA reminds passengers that recalled #batteries do not fly. Avoid carrying #recalled batteries when flying until repaired/replaced per manufacturer instructions. Learn how to #PackSafe at https://t.co/OzSsV8ar7m. @USCPSC recall ➡️https://t.co/rKTiTdv4lj https://t.co/kqLCRedilp
— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) July 10, 2019
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