FAA prohibits recalled MacBook Pros on flights due to fire risk
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration recently notified major airlines of Apple's recall of certain MacBook Pro models, effectively banning the impacted laptops from passenger and cargo planes as they pose a potential fire hazard.
In a statement to Bloomberg, the FAA said it was "aware of the recalled batteries that are used in some Apple MacBook Pro laptops" and stated that it had instructed airlines to follow rules relating to products with recalled batteries.
According to a 2016 regulation, affected devices are restricted on cargo planes and as carry-on items on passenger flights.
Apple in June issued a battery recall targeting mid-2015 15-inch MacBook Pro models sold between September 2015 and February 2017. According to the company, some units contain battery cells that might overheat and "pose a fire safety risk."
An internal document seen by Bloomberg confirms Total Cargo Expertise this week notified employees about the laptop ban. The company operates both cargo and passenger aircraft under TUI Group Airlines, Thomas Cook Airlines, Air Italy and Air Transat. A spokesperson for TUI Group said the airline will make announcements about the recalled MacBook Pro models at airport gates and onboard before takeoff, the report said.
Whether the FAA plans to post warnings about the laptops at U.S. airports is unknown. Similar postings were seen at airports across the country in 2016 after a number of Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 devices caught fire or exploded. At the time, at least one airline, Southwest, blamed the evacuation of a flight on a smoking Note 7.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency is also taking precautions and in August instructed airlines to follow 2017 rules that require devices with recalled lithium-ion batteries to be turned off during flight, the report said.
A Canadian safety alert in June estimated that about 432,000 MacBook Pros with faulty batteries were sold in the U.S., while another 26,000 made their way into Canada.
In a statement to Bloomberg, the FAA said it was "aware of the recalled batteries that are used in some Apple MacBook Pro laptops" and stated that it had instructed airlines to follow rules relating to products with recalled batteries.
According to a 2016 regulation, affected devices are restricted on cargo planes and as carry-on items on passenger flights.
Apple in June issued a battery recall targeting mid-2015 15-inch MacBook Pro models sold between September 2015 and February 2017. According to the company, some units contain battery cells that might overheat and "pose a fire safety risk."
An internal document seen by Bloomberg confirms Total Cargo Expertise this week notified employees about the laptop ban. The company operates both cargo and passenger aircraft under TUI Group Airlines, Thomas Cook Airlines, Air Italy and Air Transat. A spokesperson for TUI Group said the airline will make announcements about the recalled MacBook Pro models at airport gates and onboard before takeoff, the report said.
Whether the FAA plans to post warnings about the laptops at U.S. airports is unknown. Similar postings were seen at airports across the country in 2016 after a number of Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 devices caught fire or exploded. At the time, at least one airline, Southwest, blamed the evacuation of a flight on a smoking Note 7.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency is also taking precautions and in August instructed airlines to follow 2017 rules that require devices with recalled lithium-ion batteries to be turned off during flight, the report said.
A Canadian safety alert in June estimated that about 432,000 MacBook Pros with faulty batteries were sold in the U.S., while another 26,000 made their way into Canada.
Comments
Or is this one of those bans which relies on passengers being honest? If the first people know of it is when hear an announcement when they're standing in line and they have a several thousand dollar macbook pro in their bag, there's some incentive for staying quiet.
This is definitely a pain in the ass for travelers, but as long as the owner knows they can put in a sleeve/case to protect it...
If the owner planning to get work done on the flight, they’re obviously going to be seriously unhappy.
FYI
Identify your MacBook Pro model. Find the serial number printed on the underside of your Mac, near the regulatory markings. It's also on the original packaging, next to a barcode label. The original packaging might also show an Apple part number, such as MLH12xx/A (“xx” is a variable that differs by country or region).
Case of point:
3-1-1 for carry-ons = 3.4 ounce (100ml) bottle or less (by volume) ; 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin. One-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring. 3.4 ounce (100ml) container size is a security measure.
I’m still pissed TSA took my leatherman when I was a kid. The “blade” was barely big enough to pick my teeth...
Still things that can go boom on a plane are bad.
But, regulators kind of ignore that for a 747 “Over the course of a 10-hour flight, it might burn 36,000 gallons (150,000 liters)“ of explosive liquid.
Bottom line, they’re going to implement something for the batteries. You might think it’s ridiculous, but that’s never stopped them before...
of traveling... when the recall
was announced
You're still allowed to bring them aboard in a carry-on -- and frankly if you are letting your notebook out of your sight in an airport you deserve exactly what you will inevitably get. Only a fool puts their valuable computing devices in checked luggage.
In fact, if properly managed, this should help, since it's easy enough to tell the 2016 and later MBPs from the 2015 and earlier. Of course, I shan't be surprised if they still pull 2016 MBPs because they don't actually know the difference, or their instructions aren't worded properly.