U. S. Limits Devices for Passengers on Foreign Airlines From Eight Countries -
By RON NIXONMARCH 21, 2017
Passengers on foreign airlines headed to the United States from 10 airports in eight majority-Muslim countries have been barred from
carrying electronic devices larger than a cellphone under a new flight restriction enacted on Tuesday by the Trump administration.
Two weeks ago, the T. S.A.
adopted enhanced pat-down searches for passengers at United States airports, a response
to what the agency said were weaknesses in airport screening measures.
One of the world’s busiest airports, in Abu Dhabi, already requires American-bound passengers
to undergo strict screening by United States customs officials before boarding flights.
During the briefing on Monday night, Homeland Security officials did not cite specific intelligence suggesting
that terrorist groups were planning imminent attacks as a reason for the new policy.
on Tuesday, and must be followed within 96 hours by airlines flying to the United States from airports in Amman, Jordan; Cairo; Istanbul; Jeddah
and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia; Kuwait City; Casablanca, Morocco; Doha, Qatar; and Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
In all, officials said an estimated 50 flights each day into the United States would be affected.
The restrictions would not apply to aircraft crews, officials said in a briefing to reporters on Monday night that outlined the terms of the ban.
