The Transportation and Security Administration recently banned travelers from certain countries from bringing electronic devices in their carry-on baggage on planes bound for the U.S. While cellular phones and medical devices are excluded from the ban, passengers flying with 9 airlines from 10 airports in the Middle East and African countries will be prohibited from taking any electronic devices larger than a cell phone on board.
The newly introduced ban will include laptop computers, tablets, e-readers, cameras, and all other electronic devices larger than a cellular phone and only applies to U.S. bound flights from the following airlines:
- Royal Jordanian
- Egypt Air
- Turkish Airlines
- Kuwait Airways
- Royal Air Maroc
- Qatar Airways
- Emirates
- Etihad Airways
The policy change had been reportedly under consideration for several weeks and the TSA began informing the affected airlines on Monday. The new policy officially went into affect at 3 a.m. Eastern time on Tuesday, and must be followed within 96 hours by airlines destined for the U.S. from airports in the affected regions.
The new restriction reportedly comes as a security measure to help lessen the possibility of explosive devices being smuggled on board via electronic devices, such as laptops. While the ban has already sparked a great deal of confusion and uproar among travelers and airport personnel, officials have not disclosed how long the ban would remain in place or if other airports would be added to the list.
