Specifically, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is banning the recalled MacBook Pros from being taken onboard airplanes. An FAA spokesperson said that this is not something that’s out of the ordinary, and that any device with a recalled lithium-ion battery is not allowed on airplanes. The FAA also issued a statement to The Verge, which reads:
Of course, it remains to be seen if this is actually enforceable. After all, not all 15-inch MacBook Pros of 2015 are actually affected. And checking each one for its serial number sounds like an unrealistic endeavour. On the other hand, the EU Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is still allowing the affected MacBook Pros on board. This is, of course, under the condition that they are never turned on or plugged in while in flight. Compared to the US FAA’s stance, this sounds quite lenient in comparison. So, if you happen to own a 15-inch MacBook Pro from back in 2015, there’s more reason than ever before to check if your laptop is affected by the recall. And if it is, there’s no reason to not get its battery replaced. (Source: The Verge, EASA via Bloomberg)