Singapore Airlines bans some models of Apple MacBook Pro laptops on its flights

NEW DELHI: Foreign airlines with flights to India have begun implementing American and European aviation regulators ban on carrying some models of Apple’s MacBook Pro onboard — either in check-in or cabin bag — due to the risk of battery fires. Apple had recently announced a recall of a limited number of older generation 15-inch MacBook Pro models sold primarily between September 2015 and February 2017 for this reason.
“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.Please visit Apple’s MacBook Pro Battery Recall Program page to get more information on whether your product is affected, as well as on the available battery replacement options,” Singapore Airlines (SIA), a major operator to India, said Sunday on its website.
Thai is also not allowing 15-inch MacBook Pro notebooks sold between September 2015 and February 2017 on the aircraft either as carry-on or checked luggage.
Both the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and American Federal Aviation Administration issued these alerts earlier this month after Apple on June 20, 2019, issued an “important notice for batteries in certain MacBook Pro units” which said: “Apple announced a voluntary recall of a limited number of older generation 15-inch MacBook Pro units which contain a battery that may overheat and pose a safety risk. The units were sold primarily between September 2015 and February 2017 and can be identified by their product serial number. The recall does not affect any other 15-inch MacBook Pro units or other Mac notebooks. Because customer safety is a top priority, Apple is asking customers to stop using affected 15-inch MacBook Pro units. Customers should visit apple.com/support/15-inch-macbook-pro-battery-recall for details on product eligibility and how to have a battery replaced, free of charge.”
After this, foreign aviation regulators reiterated their rule for not allowing any electronic device whose battery are at risk of fire to be allowed on board whether in check-in or as carry-on.
The first device to banned onboard aircraft was the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 in 2016 due to fears that its battery may catch fire and explode.