European and American aviation regulators have already banned taking specific models due to the risk of battery fires. On Sunday, Singapore Airlines advised its customers to refrain from bringing the affected MacBook Pro models on its flights.
“Customers are to refrain from bringing the affected models either as hand-carry or in checked baggage until the battery has been verified as safe or replaced by the manufacturer,” the airlines said in reply to SBS Hindi’s query.
Thai Airways, another major operator in India, have also banned carrying these laptops. When asked, the airways suggested checking product serial numbers for affected MacBook Pro laptops at apple’s website.
MacBook producer Apple had recalled particular 15-inch MacBook Pro laptops after due to fears that their batteries may overheat and catch fire.
“Apple has determined that, in a limited number of older generation 15-inch MacBook Pro units, the battery may overheat and pose a fire safety risk. Affected units were sold primarily between September 2015 and February 2017, and product eligibility is determined by the product serial number,” the company said on its website.
Following the warning, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and American Federal Aviation Administration asked airlines to implement safety rules.
“EASA was informed of this recall notice on July 31, 2019, and assessed that it falls within the scope of applicability of its existing SIB 2017-01, which contains general recommendations regarding the transport by air, as cargo and by passengers, of damaged, recalled, defective or potentially hazardous lithium batteries, including those contained in equipment,” the European regulator said in a statement released earlier this month.
In a statement last week, Flight Lieutenant Pratana Patanasiri, THAI Vice President, Aviation Safety, Security and Standards said, “To avoid any dangerous situations or fire risks, passengers are advised to check if their electronic devices are broken, emit heat or smoke. Should electronic devices falling between aircraft seats, passengers are reminded to contact flight attendants for assistance.”
According to the Times of India, Indian aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is also considering the options of banning affected models of MacBook Pro onboard Indian airlines.
This is not the first time an electronic device has been banned onboard. In 2016, Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was also banned due to fears that its battery may catch fire.
