United Kingdom to refuse empty electronics on some flights

In addition to the United States, the United Kingdom is now also going to refuse empty electronics in passengers’ hand luggage on some flights. It thus follows the security advice issued by the US earlier this week.

Passengers on flights entering and leaving the UK may be asked to turn on their electronic devices. If this fails or if they refuse to do so, the devices can be confiscated. It is unclear which flights will be checked exactly. That would not be made public for ‘obvious reasons’, according to a letter from the United Kingdom Department of Transport. The letter emphasizes that there is no increased terror threat in the United Kingdom, but that it is only a preventive measure.

Earlier this week, the US announced that it would refuse electronics that are in passengers’ hand luggage and that have not been charged on flights to the country. The reason for this would be that the United States fears that telephones and laptops are used as explosives.

Schiphol announced that from Tuesday it would carry out additional checks on electronic equipment in the hand luggage of passengers bound for the US. Despite an earlier denial, Schiphol appears to be one of the number of airports where stricter checks are carried out on flights to the US. It is not clear whether Schiphol will also carry out additional checks on flights to the United Kingdom.