UK joins US in banning electronic devices on flights from Muslim countries

Electronic devices including iPads  included in the ban.

The United Kingdom has followed the United States in banning electronic devices on passenger flights from eight Muslim-majority countries, reports say.
On Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a ban on large electronic devices from cabin baggage on flights from nine airlines in eight countries across 10 airports in the Middle East including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Egypt.
The measure came after the department claimed that terrorists are seeking "innovative methods" to bring down passenger planes amid fears that bombs could be hidden in laptops, tablets, cameras, DVD players and electronic games.
The list of countries includes Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt.
The list of airlines affected by the ban includes Royal Jordanian, Egypt Air, Turkish Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Etihad Airways.
The airports affected are:
  • Mohammed V International, Casablanca, Morocco
  • Ataturk Airport, Istanbul, Turkey
  • Cairo International Airport, Egypt
  • Queen Alia International, Amman, Jordan
  • King Abdulaziz International, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
  • King Khalid International, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • Kuwait International Airport
  • Hamad International, Doha, Qatar
  • Abu Dhabi International, United Arab Emirates
  • Dubai International, United Arab Emirates
Shortly after the US announcement, the British media reported that passengers flying to the UK from some Middle Eastern countries will be banned from carrying most electronic devices.
The details of the UK ban are still not known, but it seems it is similar to the US restriction.
The US Department for Homeland Security said the ban was implemented because they were "concerned about terrorists' ongoing interest in targeting commercial aviation, including transportation hubs.”
They said terrorists are "aggressively pursuing innovative methods to undertake their attacks.”

Comments