Electronics Banned From Cabins On Some Middle Eastern And African Flights To U.S.
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Department of Homeland Security has a new rule for those flying into the U.S. from eight Middle Eastern and North African countries.
Travelers on direct flights from those countries are now banned from carrying-on electronic devices larger than a cell phone.
No laptop? No tablet? New Homeland Security rule affects travelers coming to US from 10 Middle Eastern and North African airports.
— Tim Jimenez (@TimJRadio) March 21, 2017
Tablets, laptops, cameras are on the list of items that now need to be packed in checked baggage if you're flying to the US from 10 overseas airports.
Officials say the rule is in place because of intelligence gathered on terrorists groups, which continue to target commercial air travel. but no specific threat is mentioned.
Qatar is one of the countries listed and Jameel, on the flight from Doha to Philly, says he's fine with the ban.
"I'm not in intelligence. I'm not an agent. I don't know what they're looking for and I certainly don't know how to do their job."
But Dr. Muhammad Muntazar, who works at Cooper University Hospital, says he'll lose precious work time that will affect his teaching.
"All my lectures and all the things I prepare during my flight time, 14 hour flight, if I don't have this opportunity it will be a big loss for me."
The airports affected by this new security measure are not in countries that would be affected by President Trump's revised travel ban.
