8 nations’ airlines face ban on devices

Citing terror risk, U.S. officials prohibit some electronics in cabin.

U.S. officials have called for a ban on electronic devices larger than a smartphone in the cabin of flights to the U.S. from eight Middle Eastern and African countries, responding to intelligence information about terrorist threats.

The airlines that serve the eight countries — Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Morocco — were given 96 hours to implement the ban, starting Tuesday morning, according to administration officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The ban will require passengers on such flights to put all laptop computers, tablets and other devices larger than a smartphone into luggage checked into the cargo compartment.

Senior administration officials declined to elaborate on the threats that prompted the ban, saying only that commercial airlines are still a target of terrorists who are trying to smuggle explosives in electronic devices.

The ban affects nine airlines: Royal Jordanian, Egyptair, Turkish Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Saudia Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad Airways; the airlines operate about 50 daily f lights to the U.S., the officials said.

U.S. officials would not say how long the ban will continue, saying only that it will be reevaluated on a regular basis.

Royal Jordanian and Saudia Airlines used Twitter on Monday to alert their passengers.

“Saudia Airlines would like to point out to dear guests that the United States transportation authorities have imposed a new procedure on trips heading to the United States,” that airline tweeted.