Homeland Security will ban certain airline passengers from carrying any electronic device larger than a cell phone onto flights to the U.S., U.S. officials told Reuters on Monday, March 20.
The ban, which is being enacted in response to an unspecified terrorism threat, should be officially announced on Tuesday, March 21.
Sources have indicated that the ban could cover eight to ten foreign airlines flying out of ten airports in eight different countries. Saudi Arabia’s Saudia Airlines and Jordan’s Royal Jordanian Airline have tweeted that they are included in the ban.
Passengers affected by the ban will need to put all electronic devices larger than a cell phone into checked baggage.
Some small medical devices have been excepted from the ban.
No American airlines will be affected; passengers on U.S. airlines will still be able to bring cameras, portable DVD players, laptops and tablets into the cabin as carry-on.
(Reuters)