Australian government mulls aircraft laptop ban
THE Australian government is looking “very closely” at enforcing an airline laptop ban on flights amid terrorism fears.
MALCOLM Turnbull may follow in Donald Trump’s footsteps.
Australia is considering banning laptops in the cabins of inbound commercial passenger flights, amid global concerns about a new terrorist threat.
The UK and US have already banned the carrying of large electronic devices in cabins on flights arriving from certain Middle East and African countries.
“We are looking at it very closely,” the Prime Minister said in Adelaide today.
“We are taking into account all of the information and advice we’re receiving internationally and we’re working very closely with our partners.”
Transport Minister Darren Chester said Australia had a comprehensive and strong security system in place, with the safety of the travelling public a priority.
“The government continuously monitors shifts in the threat environment domestically and overseas to ensure we have the best security arrangements in place to meet the challenges we face,” he told AAP.
US agencies preparing plans to expand the ban to other countries with conflict zones, according to Reuters.
This follows fresh intelligence militant groups like Islamic State could be gearing up for a terrorist attack involving bombs in laptops.
However, safety experts have cautioned against electronics bans on cabins. They say piling gadgets in aeroplane cargo holds — rather than letting passengers carry them — could lead to deadly infernos.
“[Personal electronic devices] containing lithium batteries are considered as dangerous goods,” the European Aviation Safety Agency warned, according to the New York Post.
“When carried by passengers, they should preferably be carried in the passenger cabin.”
— With AAP
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