US Bans Uncharged Laptops and Smartphones from Flights
In order to promote aviation security, Homeland Security and the US Transportation Security Administration enhance security procedures on flights to the US, and the new set of rules doesn't allow uncharged and turned off smartphones, tablets and laptops aboard planes.
It is not clear yet which airports are the first to implement the new rules, though, but BBC is reporting London Heathrow is on the list, while Belgian officials also confirmed passenger smartphones are now scrutinized.
The move to tighten the screws on flight security is a response to emerging terrorist threats. Reportedly, jihadi extremists have managed to come up with a bomb that fits into a smartphone or laptop and can evade security screening procedures at the airports. According to Sir Malcolm Rifkind, chairman of the UK Parliament intelligence and security committee, the measures are unavoidable, and the 'devilish technical skill' deployed by extremists create highly sophisticated devices capable of outsmarting security checks.
Irrespective of what caused the move, it is clear personal devices become the targets of scrutiny and it is the regular passengers- smartphone users that will be affected in most unpleasant ways. According to the statement of the US Transportation Security Administration, powerless smartphones and laptops are not allowed on board of aircraft heading to the US. "The traveler may also undergo additional screening."
Apparently, not only the low-end devices with poor batteries are targeted. In fact, it is quite the opposite. iPhones and Samsung smartphones have been the targets of additional scrutiny at the airports of Europe, Africa and Middle East for quite some time now, reports UK Channel 4. Knowing how joyless security check at international airports are now, especially on US flights, it would be logical to assume we are looking at yet more strict procedures, and they are not going to get any less stringent. British deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said, "I don't want people to think that this is just a sort of a blip for a week." The complex evolution of flight security measures is in constant move in response to ever evolving threats, so US-bound passengers will have to mind their devices' batteries thoroughly - no Flappy Bird while waiting for that flight.
Passengers won't be able to board a flight with switched off electronic devices, so security officers might ask passengers to power up uncharged or switched off devices, so keeping that charger handy is a must now.
The US Homeland Security secretary Jeh Johnson said, "We will work to ensure these necessary steps pose as few disruptions to travelers as possible."
No wonder the allied governments now paint the picture of Syrian terrorists as the current major Al-Qaida operatives, so we can expect the next wave of the US military invasion in Syria some time soon.
