Trump considers banning laptops on planes from UK airports

[DonViejo]

Source: Times of London



Lucy Fisher, Francis Elliott, James Dean, Michael Evans
April 25 2017, 12:01am,
The Times

Passengers flying from Britain to the US face a ban on carrying laptops in aircraft cabins, The Times has learnt.

Whitehall is braced for Washington to extend its security restrictions to flights from Europe after President Trump’s administration changed the rules last month for some US-bound aircraft from Middle Eastern countries.

Under the restrictions, devices larger than a mobile phone — including laptops, tablets and e-readers — must be checked in and stored in the hold. The ban has worried passengers that the gadgets may be damaged. It can also be difficult to obtain insurance for items in the hold. British security chiefs have been put on alert that the US is planning to impose its laptop ban on incoming flights from some parts of Europe — a move that could be implemented within weeks. They are waiting to see whether Britain is included, according to a senior Whitehall source.

Several informed sources confirmed that the US was considering plans to include Britain but no final decision has been taken. “As with everything from Trump’s America, there are conflicting reports about where, when and what,” one Whitehall insider said.

Read more: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/trump-considers-banning-laptops-on-planes-from-uk-airports-5rbxgm67m?CMP=TNLEmail_118918_1777741

[Flaleftist]

1. What's the point?

If the concern is an explosive device, couldn't it just be set to go off in the hold on a timer instead of being set off manually?

[cstanleytech]

3. Not to mention an altimeter or even a simple timer. nt

[Coventina]

6. Don't they even explode on their own? Bomb or no bomb?

I seem to remember news stories about laptops catching fire on airplanes.

[cstanleytech]

9. There have been isolated cases of batteries exploding but its rare and if it was an honest

concern its misplaced as planes themselves have batteries as well on board.
What I think the plan here for this proposed ban is really about is to try and isolate the US from the rest of the world by discouraging people from traveling here as well as discouraging them from leaving as eventually they will make it so you cant have laptops and tablets on outgoing flights if they havent done so already.

[Flaleftist]

14. The pretense is terrorism. A laptop or tablet battery

exploding won't bring down a plane. A chunk of plastic explosive could. But I doubt it matters if it is in the hold or cabin.

[truthisfreedom]

2. 45 has no idea how modern humans live.

[WhiteTara]

8. He has an idea of how, so he wants to make

it much harder for everyone else to live. He is a monster.

[woodsprite]

4. There is no way in hell I'd check my personal laptop.

Thankfully, I'm a worker bee in my department and don't have to travel much for work All other places we've traveled have been by train or car.

Guess if I really was required to go, I would ask work to provide a laptop for me or they could send someone else.

Not looking forward to my son doing college study abroad.

[Coventina]

5. Boeing, at least, will have a fit about this.

Here in Phoenix, our only direct flight to Europe is a British Airways flight (once daily) between Phoenix and Heathrow.

There's a lot of Boeing employees that take that flight (the Apache helicopter is built here in Mesa). Classified info about the Apache and its programs are on those laptops.

Boeing will NOT want them unsecured in the hold.

[angrychair]

7. Am I missing something?

Laptops and such have to go through security like everything else, what advantage is gained?
An e-reader?? That is ridiculous.
This is completely absurd.
As if his Muslim ban wasn't enough, this will do even more to crush our tourist industry.

[George II]

10. He should ban smart phones from the white house and mar-a-lago

[Solly Mack]

11. Why? Did someone read him the comment section of The Guardian?

No laptops, no comments?

[mainer]

12. Professional photographers and filmmakers will have problems too

Imagine your expensive camera equipment being tossed around or stolen by baggage handlers. All these gadgets will be included in the ban.

[Beacool]

13. I loathe this despicable clown!!!

What are you supposed to do with your electronics when you travel, check them with the luggage? It will be a certainty that you'll never see them again.

[smirkymonkey]

15. Great, another blow to the already suffering tourism industry.