US government to ban laptops on some international flights — here's what we know

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March 20, 2017 9:40 PM

The US Government may have banned electronics on flights to and from certain countries in the Middle East and Africa.

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The US government is expected to bar passengers from bringing any electronic device larger than a cellphone on some flights to and from the Middle East and Africa.

Royal Jordanian Airlines on Monday tweeted a description of an electronics ban implemented by the US. But the airline deleted the tweet a few hours later.

According to Royal Jordanian's deleted tweet, all electronic devices apart from cellphones and necessary medical equipment must be checked in to the cargo hold with luggage. That includes laptops, cameras, tablets, and DVD players.

The airline indicated that the policy would go into effect on March 21.

These changes are a result of a security concern related to passengers on nonstop flights from some Middle Eastern countries, an unnamed US official told CNN's Jon Ostrower.

According to Ostrower, the directive, which is targeted at certain airports and will last for a limited time only, is in reaction to a threat related to Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

In an emailed statement to Business Insider, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) wrote: "We have no comment on potential security precautions, but will provide an update when appropriate."

The Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) sent a confidential email to airlines on Monday regarding the electronics ban, which is expected to affect carriers from 13 nations, The Guardian's Sam Thielman reported.

According to Thielman, the airlines will have 96 hours to comply with the ban.

Business Insider asked the Middle East's three mega-carriers — Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways — for comment. Etihad said that it was still sorting through the issue internally and was unable to offer details. Emirates and Qatar Airways said they would share more information once it's available.

Business Insider also contacted Delta, the only major US airline to offer nonstop flights to Africa. A representative for the Atlanta-based carrier declined to comment and referred us to the DHS.

Click here for more details on the electronics ban.

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