Apple MacBook Pro Older Models 'Could Cause Fire on Flight', DGCA Mulls Ban on Laptops
After foreign airlines banned some older models of Apple's flagship laptop MacBook Pro onboard, India's regulatory body for civil aviation, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), is mulling a similar move.
New Delhi, August 26: After foreign airlines banned some older models of Apple's flagship laptop MacBook Pro onboard, India's regulatory body for civil aviation, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), is mulling a similar move. The development comes days after the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) had said that older generation 15-inch MacBook Pro models could overheat and potentially cause fires during air travel.
"The DGCA is examining the issue and if need be, will do the needful," a senior official was quoted by TOI as saying. While the DGCA is examining the latest fear, airlines from Europe and the US have banned affected models of MacBook Pro onboard. Earlier this month, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and American Federal Aviation Administration asked airlines to take necessary steps regarding the potential threat. DGCA to Conduct Quarterly Safety Audit of Airside Activities for Safe Operations.
Singapore Airlines (SIA), a major operator to India, on Sunday said on its website: "Customers are to refrain from bringing the affected (MacBook Pro) models either as hand-carry or in checked baggage until the battery has been verified as safe or replaced by the manufacturer. Please visit Apple’s MacBook Pro Battery Recall Program page to get more information on whether your product is affected, as well as on the available battery replacement options." DGCA Suspends Pilot for 3 Months for Wrongly Transmitting Hijack Alert on Srinagar Flight.
Apple had recently announced a replacement programme for older generation 15-inch MacBook Pro models sold primarily between September 2015 and February 2017 after the iPhone-maker received 26 reports of the laptop's battery overheating. At least in five cases, users minor burns. Nearly 432,000 potentially affected MacBook Pro units were sold in the US and 26,000 in Canada, Business Standard reported.
Apple had issued a similar replacement programme last year for the latest 13-inch Pros over issues related to battery expansion. In 2016, Samsung had to recall its flagship smartphone Galaxy Note 7 after batteries started exploding and devices caught fire while charging. This caused the South Korean giant losses of some 6.1 trillion won ($5 billion).
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 26, 2019 12:06 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).