US laptop ban might expand across all international flights
The US’s proposed laptop ban faces backlash across all social media platforms
From what is being publicised as a means to ‘raise the bar’ on aviation security, the United States of America’s (US) Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly declared considering a ban on laptops in airline cabins across all international flights irrespective of the country, as an extension to the present status quo of aviation security in the US.
US aviation security possess a ‘projected’ threat from laptops, thereby justifying the ‘proposed’ extension of the laptop ban
John Kelly stated that the Trump government is heavily considering an extension of the ban on in-cabin electronic devices that are larger than a smartphone on incoming flights to the US from European countries. This extension would disable travellers from carrying laptops as a part of their carry-on baggage on all international flights.
Kelly stated, “Well, there’s a real threat. Numerous threats against aviation, that’s really the thing that they are obsessed with, the terrorists, the idea of knocking down an airplane in flight, particularly if it’s a US carrier, particularly if it’s full of mostly US folks, people. It’s real.”
In early May, the US administration considered banning laptops and other devices from carry-on luggage on flights coming from Europe, which was later disregarded. However, the recent news of a supposed ban came as reinforcement to what was earlier dismissed after considerate talks with European officials.
The move, Kelly said was thought of after news of manufacturing laptop battery sized explosives surfaced.
Meanwhile, the news took social media by storm as several discouraged the Trump administration on yet another ‘hastily made clumsy move.
#electronicsban ? pic.twitter.com/U3S7sdkipy
— Royal Jordanian (@RoyalJordanian) March 23, 2017
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) condemned the move. The IATA, which represents 265 airlines stated that an extended ban would result in huge financial loss that might be difficult to cope with.
The present rule bans laptops for passengers flying in to the US from 10 airports across eight countries namely, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey and Morocco. This ban was made effective as of March 22.
The United Kingdom (UK) quickly followed trail and imposed a ban on large electronic items in the cabin luggage on flights coming to the country from six countries: Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. The ban followed citing a breach in the UK aviation security and fear of recurring terror attacks.
The United Kingdom, Department for Transport tweet read:
NEW: Find out about additional airline security measures on some routes travelling to the UK https://t.co/uVLxTZ5tSz pic.twitter.com/5chf0ksKI6
— Dept for Transport (@transportgovuk) March 21, 2017
Most people across the globe however defines the move as an Islamophobic agenda to keep Muslims out of the country, a propaganda that Trump closely preached and to an extent practiced ever since his swearing in as the US President.
