The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has banned select Apple laptops from commercial flights due to fire risks posed by internal lithium batteries.
FAA rules prohibit recalled lithium batteries onboard commercial flights:
Lithium batteries recalled by the manufacturer/vendor must not be carried aboard aircraft or packed in baggage. Battery-powered devices recalled because of lithium battery safety concerns also should not be carried aboard aircraft or packed in baggage unless the device or its battery has been replaced, repaired or otherwise made safe per manufacturer/vendor instructions.
Earlier this summer, Apple launched a limited recall of 15-inch MacBook pro models produced between September 2015 and February 2017. You can find out if your laptop is eligible here.
Apple added:
Customer safety is always Apple’s top priority, and we have voluntarily decided to replace affected batteries, free of charge.
The FAA told NPR:
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.
Indeed, this is not breaking news. The recall was first announced more than a month and a half ago. But this is the first I am hearing about it and wanted to pass on the word in case you have not heard about it as well. I do have an old laptop sitting in my office that has been recalled, so I need to take care of this personally.
CONCLUSION
You’re on an honor system of sorts with these type of bans and voluntary recalls. TSA or airlines are not going to search through your bag and run your serial number against the recall database. But recalls are for a reason. If you find your Mac laptop has been recalled, set up an appointment at your nearest Apple Store or other authorized service provider to have the battery switched out. Consider the helpful side effect as well that a fresh battery will provide longer life to the laptop.
Are you impacted by the Apple laptop flight ban?
Apple: “customer safety is always our first priority”; typical weasel words when their incompetence/poor processes lead to a safety issue ( bit like Trump’s ‘thoughts and prayers’ after a shooting).
because Obama’s ‘thoughts and prayers’ did solve the whole issue.
Apple customer service on these recalls is usually “We can take care of this for you but you will need to leave it to be sent out to the repair center and it will be sent back in a week or two.”
Which is why I am still dealing with the butterfly keyboard on mine and its horrid sticking keys. How am I supposed to relinquish my laptop for a week or two?