FAA Bans Recalled MacBook Pros From Flights (bloomberg.com) 39
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has banned select MacBook Pro laptops on flights after Apple recently said that some units had batteries that posed a fire risk. In a statement, the FAA said it was "aware of the recalled batteries that are used in some Apple MacBook Pro laptops" and stated that it alerted major U.S. airlines about the recall. Bloomberg reports: The watchdog also reminded airlines to follow 2016 safety instructions for goods with recalled batteries, which means that the affected Apple laptops should not be taken on flights as cargo or in carry-on baggage by passengers. The Apple laptops in question are some 15-inch MacBook Pros sold between September 2015 and February 2017. Apple issued the recall in June, saying it had "determined that, in a limited number of older generation 15-inch MacBook Pro units, the battery may overheat and pose a fire safety risk."
This week, four airlines with cargo operations managed by Total Cargo Expertise -- TUI Group Airlines, Thomas Cook Airlines, Air Italy, and Air Transat -- implemented a ban, barring the laptops from being brought onto the carriers' planes as cargo, according to an internal notice obtained by Bloomberg News. A spokesperson for TUI Group Airlines said airport staff and flight attendants will start making announcements about these MacBook Pros at the gate and before takeoff. Laptops that have replaced batteries won't be impacted, the spokesperson said. The company also posted a notice on its website banning the recalled computers on board, in both cargo and passenger areas of its planes. It's unclear what efforts will, if any, be made at U.S. airports.
This week, four airlines with cargo operations managed by Total Cargo Expertise -- TUI Group Airlines, Thomas Cook Airlines, Air Italy, and Air Transat -- implemented a ban, barring the laptops from being brought onto the carriers' planes as cargo, according to an internal notice obtained by Bloomberg News. A spokesperson for TUI Group Airlines said airport staff and flight attendants will start making announcements about these MacBook Pros at the gate and before takeoff. Laptops that have replaced batteries won't be impacted, the spokesperson said. The company also posted a notice on its website banning the recalled computers on board, in both cargo and passenger areas of its planes. It's unclear what efforts will, if any, be made at U.S. airports.
Tim's Jealous Brother? (Score:3)
Is that Tim's jealous brother?
Thomas Cook Airlines [Tim's Jealous Brother?] (Score:5, Funny)
3-way coincidence: "cook" is also what the laptops do.
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Easy work-around (Score:1, Funny)
I just hide mine in my Galaxy Note 7.
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Yawn, this gets tiring anyway. It seems like we are always trying to patch a full of holes leaking bucket all the time.
This makes for a great new prank. (Score:2)
Just rename your phone's hotspot name to say MacBook Pro.
Question (Score:2)
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This is speculation, but I presume it's a faulty set of battery packs. They know which laptops those packs went into and which of those laptops were subsequently serviced and the pack swapped out for a good one. The site Apple set up to check your laptop wants the serial number. I've seen it say (paraphrasing) "was never affected," "was affected but fixed," and "still dangerous" for various hardware.
I expect vehicle part recalls work much the same way with VIN tracking.
Anecdotally, please check your serial
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Do they flag every one?
Will they have a list of serial numbers to check, for every person carrying an Apple laptop?
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I can't speak to whether they will, but TSA should have a computer somewhere near the scanning stations. And assuming it can access the internet, they can plug your serial number into Apple's recall website. [apple.com]
Alternatively, have the site up on your phone. If you can prove it's safe, they should let you on. This being the TSA... who really knows, though?
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The probably would within 5 minutes of implementing this, if they already didn't.
If you see how many Apple laptops are out there, and how many of them look alike, unless you look really closely, you can't tell the difference between model years.
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They know which laptops those packs went into
'They' being Apple. This is one good reason to have batteries replaced only by authorized service centers.
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Why can't they roll out an update that checks the machine's serial number and displays a warning on screen?
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What do you mean "why can't they." Of course they can. The machine knows its serial number.
They probably wanted to release the information in a way that didn't freak out everyone at once. And if they had proactively rolled out your update, a big onscreen warning at boot saying "This object might explode" is a great way to make the TSA not only confiscate your laptop but also interview you at length in an uncomfortable room.
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I suppose I meant "why didn't they", and I think your answer is probably right. Screw safety, the important thing here is to make sure service isn't overwhelmed and hopefully most owners don't even hear about it so keep those costs down.
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Mine says "it may be affected". This is helpful when the nearest Mac store is 45 minutes away, and I have to ship it in. I did have the battery replaced quite a while ago, so I am betting it is safe.
Website to check your model number (Score:4, Interesting)
https://support.apple.com/15-i... [apple.com]
it's all the mid 2015 series mac pros. so you can check it that way too.
Here's my worry-- sure apple will replace my battery but.... how does the FAA know to let me on the plane? do I get a badge screwed on the outside to let them know the battery got replaced?
And while they are at it maybe they could remove my touch bar? god I hate the touch bar. Love the mac, hate the touch bar.
Re:Website to check your model number (Score:4, Informative)
Here's my worry-- sure apple will replace my battery but.... how does the FAA know to let me on the plane? do I get a badge screwed on the outside to let them know the battery got replaced?
That site [apple.com] doesn't check the model number; it checks the serial number. Apple records when a laptop has been serviced. The bag scanners don't even have to turn on your laptop. They can just flip it over and copy the number into the site's input field to see if your specific computer is still listed as dangerous.
Related: last time Slashdot talked about this recall, they mentioned that "only" 46 laptops had spontaneously combusted. One of them was a guy I worked with in 2016. The laptop was just sitting, unused, on his kitchen island when it caught fire. He threw it out onto the stoop and sent us pictures. That is not an experience I'd like to have myself, especially not on an aeroplane.
If you have (or think you might have) an affected laptop, I highly encourage you to check your serial number.
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My worry is that airlines and security authorities in various places may not want to deal with specifics of individual MBP models (or serial numbers) and just ban them alltogether.
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Having to type a serial number into a website every time isn't a very practical solution. The staff are already over-worked and the queues already long. The airline will probably just tell staff "no 2015 Macbooks, period."
The owner probably doesn't want to be delayed or have to explain either.
The best solution would be to replace say the lower part of the case with a new one so it's extremely obvious and has a sticker that clearly says it has been fixed. Change the model number slightly, add a -B or somethi
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The best solution would be to replace say the lower part of the case with a new one so it's extremely obvious and has a sticker that clearly says it has been fixed. Change the model number slightly, add a -B or something.
And then re-recall all the ones where the battery has already been fixed so they can fly on aeroplanes in the States with a new bottom plate? That seems a little silly.
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Mid-2015 laptops do not have the touchbar, fortunately.
In the meantime, I am on travel with my mid-2015 MBP (which is NOT subject to recall based on its serial number), and need to fly through several countries to get back home. No idea how it will play out - certainly hope I don't have to drop my laptop midway.
Where's Nader? (Score:4, Funny)
Macbook Pro: unsafe at any speed. (or altitude)
There have been several recent Apple problems. (Score:2)
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Apple is not well managed?
Inertia. Apple was well managed.
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Tim is just holding it wrong.
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Sorry. That has been banned due to its fire hazard.
Removable Batteries (Score:2)
This is why you don't buy laptops without removable Batteries. It should be illegal to buy one without a removable battery.
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And indeed several older MacBook Pros we had with removable batteries had some distinct battery problems. No fires, but they'd swell up and push off the battery cover, and overheat. One with a non-removable battery also had it swell up and bend the case.
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Shock & Burnie! [penny-arcade.com]
How do you prove it? (Score:3)