Apple’s MacBook Pro joins list of items banned from flying, certain units being recalled

Apple – Owners of any 15-inch macOS powered laptops now face the uncertainty of not being able to fly with their devices.

On June 20, Apple released a recall for a limited number of older generation 15-inch MacBook Pro units stating that “the battery may overheat and pose a fire safety risk.”

Affected units were sold primarily between September 2015 and February 2017, and product eligibility is determined by the product serial number, said Apple.

To check whether your MacBook Pro is included in the recall, click here.

“Customer safety is always Apple’s top priority, and we have voluntarily decided to replace affected batteries, free of charge,” added Apple.

Adding to the news of the recall, it is understood that a lithium-ion (li-on) battery poses a risk to flight safety, especially if the battery is damaged.

A report by Forbes noted that a ban was placed and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has urged airlines not to allow these types of laptops into the plane, whether as cargo or carry-on.

While the ban is not applied to all MacBook Pro 15-inch models purchased within the specified dates, the implemented FAA ban covers any lithium-ion battery that has been recalled by any electronics manufacturer.

If your laptop has been fitted with a new battery, then you should have no problems bringing it on a flight. To save yourself the trouble of getting questioned and awkward discussion at the gate, it is advised to bring any printout or proof of the replacement.

It is not relatively easy to show proof that a MacBook Pro battery has been replaced; therefore, documentation would prove beneficial.

The last thing MacBook users need is a highly publicised incident involving a device battery, a plane and a fire to create a blanket ban on all models – much like what happened with Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7. -/TISG

Read related: Exploding battery causes Samsung to issue worldwide recall notice for Note7