UK to follow US with electronic devices ban on flights from Muslim majority countries

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the ban on Tuesday after claiming that extremists are seeking “innovative methods” to bring down jets and voicing concerns that bombs will be hidden in laptops.

It is understood the UK restrictions may differ from the DHS ban.

The US ban, which will affect flights on nine airlines from eight Muslim majority countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Egypt, will prohibit passengers from having electronic items bigger than a cellphone in their cabin baggage. Larger devices, such as tablets and laptops, must be placed in checked luggage.

Security sources told the Telegraph that British security services have seen the same intelligence as their US counterparts and are expected to follow suit with a similar ban, possibly as soon as Tuesday.

Discussions have reportedly been taking place in Whitehall and among cabinet ministers over the past few weeks about how the ban will work, according to the newspaper.

Passengers won’t be able to carry laptops, tablets, or other portable devices onto flights from the listed countries, but mobile phones will be allowed, according to Sky News. The ban is not expected to apply to pilots.

The US Department of Homeland Security says it is “concerned about terrorists” interest in targeting commercial aviation, including transportation hubs, over the past two years.

“Intelligence indicates that terrorist groups continue to target commercial aviation, to include smuggling explosive devices in various consumer items,” it said.

The attempted downing of an airliner in Somalia last year was linked to a laptop device and it appears security precautions are an attempt to stop similar incidents. 

Affected airlines have until Friday to comply with the new restrictions, which will be in place indefinitely.

The airlines affected by the ban are: Royal Jordanian, Egypt Air, Turkish Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad Airways.

Passengers on some 50 flights a day from some of the busiest hubs in the Middle East, Turkey and North Africa would be required to follow the new rules. 

The Turkish government has said the US ban is wrong and should be reversed.