(Image source from: Fodors Travel Guide)

Some foreign airlines operating in India including Singapore Airlines have announced a ban on carrying a few models of the Apple MacBook Pro on-board that are sold between September 2015 and February 2017 due to an alleged battery fire risk.  

According to a report by Times of India, the travelers will not be able to take banned laptops also during check-in or in cabin luggage.

Singapore Airlines on Sunday published on its website:

"Apple has recently announced a recall of a limited number of older generation 15-inch MacBook Pro models. Affected models were sold primarily between September 2015 and February 2017. Customers are to refrain from bringing the affected models either as hand-carry or in checked baggage until the battery has been verified as safe or replaced by the manufacturer."

As per reports this ban may before long start affecting travelers in India directly as well.

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“The DGCA is examining the issue and if need be, will do the needful,” a senior official was quoted as saying by Times of India.

Recently Apple issued an “important notice for batteries in certain MacBook Pro units” which said: “Apple announced a voluntary recall of a limited number of older generation 15-inch MacBook Pro units which contain a battery that may overheat and pose a safety risk. The units were sold primarily between September 2015 and February 2017 and can be identified by their product serial number. The recall does not affect any other 15-inch MacBook Pro units or other Mac notebooks. Because customer safety is a top priority, Apple is asking customers to stop using affected 15-inch MacBook Pro units. Customers should visit apple.com/support/15-inch-macbook-pro-battery-recall for details on product eligibility and how to have a battery replaced, free of charge.”

“Please note that the 15-inch Apple MacBook Pro laptop, sold between mid-2015 to February-2017 is prohibited onboard any of our mandate carriers,” said a Total Cargo Expertise operations coordinator.

In 2016, Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was banned to take onboard aircraft due to fears that its battery may catch fire and explode.

By Sowmya Sangam