FAA Bans Outdated MacBook Models From Aircrafts

The FAA issued a safety alert informing airlines and travelers that devices using recalled lithium-based batteries, including the MacBook Pro, are not allowed on planes.

The alert, issued earlier last month, did not explicitly ban the recalled MacBook Pro, but rather it reminded airlines to uphold the existing ban on all recalled batteries from being brought aboard as cargo or carry-ons, citing the possibility of them posing a fire risk.

This safety policy does not apply to all MacBook models, but strictly prohibits passengers from taking the older generation, 15-inch MacBook Pro laptops onto aircraft in carry-on bags or in checked baggage. 

Affected devices were distributed by Apple Inc. between September 2015 and February 2017, and have since been recalled due to batteries in some of these laptops overheating. The devices could catch fire and pose a safety risk unless they are fixed or batteries are replaced as advised by the manufacturer.

“The FAA is aware of the recalled batteries that are used in some Apple MacBook Pro laptops. In early July, we alerted airlines about the recall, and we informed the public,” according to the FAA. “We issued reminders to continue to follow instructions about recalls outlined in the 2016 FAA Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) 16011, and provided information provided to the public on FAA’s Packsafe website.”

The U.S. is not the only country to take these safety precautions. Thai Airways also announced this week that passengers are not allowed to take the older generation of 15-inch MacBook Pro laptops onboard aircraft, in accordance with European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) regulations.

Travelers can check the Apple support page, where you can type in your laptop’s serial number to see if your machine is affected.