LOS ANGELES

Following Apple’s recall of a number of 15-inch MacBook Pro laptops due to concerns over the lithium ion battery and the potential to catch fire, owners of any 15-inch macOS powered laptops face an uncertain and chaotic landscape if they try to fly with them.

First up, a li-on battery fire in the air is a serious business and flying with a damaged battery is risky. That’s why the ban is in place and the FAA has reminded airlines they should not be carried either in cargo or as carry-on. Bloomberg reports:

In a statement, the US Federal Aviation Administration said it was “aware of the recalled batteries that are used in some Apple MacBook Pro laptops” and stated that it alerted major U.S. airlines about the recall.

The watchdog also reminded airlines to follow 2016 safety instructions for goods with recalled batteries, which means that the affected Apple laptops should not be taken on flights as cargo or in carry-on baggage by passengers

The awkward twist is that this is not a blanket ban on the MacBook Pro 15 inch models purchased between September 2015 and February 2017 years, or even those purchased between those dates which are affected by the recall… strictly speaking it’s the ongoing FAA ban on airlines carrying any lithium-ion battery that has been recalled by any manufacturer of any piece of consumer electronics.

That means if your MacBook Pro is part of the recall but has had a new battery fitted, then it’s good to go and can be taken into the air. Which is where the potential for madness and awkward discussions at the gate can kick in.

Source:Forbes