Electronic Ban on Flights From Certain Countries

Hamish Shepherd

Flights from some Middle Eastern and African countries to the U.S. are being told to not allow electronics in the cabins of aircrafts. This ban was issued from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on 3/21, and is aimed to deter terrorist attacks. The ban applies to  Egypt, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey. The ban requires all electronic technology larger than a smartphone to be checked in and stored in luggage.

The U.S Homeland Security Secretary,  John Kelly  brought forth airplane security issues to Congress and after weeks of discussing solutions to the issues came to the ban as a conclusion.

The logic behind the ban has received criticism, as well as the rule’s perceived connection to President Trumps push for Middle Eastern travel bans. Many have questioned whether the ban will actually help prevent terrorist attacks. There has also been criticism in that some believe there is a link between the electronic ban and President Trump’s  travel ban, despite officials, and President Trump,  saying there is not as well as President Trump not stating a conception.  

The United Kingdom of Great Britain has placed similar bans as The United States but the bands correspond to  a slightly different list of countries, those countries being; Tunisia, Saudi Arabia,  Jordan, Egypt, and Lebanon.  The UK placing similar bans shows that the rule’s connection to the Middle Eastern travel ban is slight placing at the most and is based off serious concern for the safety of  commercial flights.

With Canada close behind the UK and the U.S in creating electronic bans on certain flights, flyers are beginning to see these safety measures as useless and a waste of time while others call it a complete and  necessary step to keep people safe.

The United States has however shown that they are reforming this ban. This has had a positive reaction as it shows that the ban was more of a sudden reaction to a threat than an attack on countries with a high Muslim population. Arman Mirnossaini 10,the leader of our new politics club stated that “ I don’t think it has a direct correlation to Muslim populated countries. It doesn’t bother me as much because they are trying to reform the ban”.

Although the ban has received some negative criticism both the consideration of repeal or reform to the ban has lessened it. The ban was also said to have been made in order to keep people safe from a suspected terrorist attack.