Will a ban on laptops on flights make air travel safer?

Will a ban on laptops on flights make air travel safer?

UK flight ban

Any electronic device bigger than 16cm x 9.3cm x 1.5cm in hand luggage will be banned! The larger iPhone Plus and the Samsung Galaxy S7, can still be carried in hand luggage.

US flight ban

Prohibits the following items, as detailed by The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – but have said that this list is not exhaustive:

• Laptops
• Tablets
• E-readers
• Cameras
• Portable DVD players
• Game consoles larger than a smartphone
• Travel printers and scanners

Introduction

UK and US had both implemented a ban on electronic devices larger than smartphones which included laptops. It was done with the intention of making air travel safer, especially those flying to and from some of the Middle Eastern and North African countries.
Though the ban is only for few countries, the problem began when travellers from other countries had to deal with the ban because their flights had a stopover in one of the laptop ban nations. Should this ban be applied to other countries too in order to make air travel safer? Should India follow the footsteps too?

Yes

1. Physically

These are larger devices that take more space, posing the risk for terrorists and anti-social elements to hide and transport bomb parts and such things from one country to another. It was suspected that multiple terrorists could be able to carry a part of a bomb each with their laptops and assemble it in the cabin, posing dire security risks to all travellers.

2. Making flights safer from attacks

While laptop ban on flights may not be able to stop terrorist attacks overall but it surely can help prevent terror attacks on flights. Last year a similar incident in a Somali airline was a result of bomb hidden inside laptop. This has led to the decision on laptop bans.

No

1. Smartphone danger

Anything with lithium-ion-battery is capable of exploding and causing security hazards. Moreover, it is also possible that terrorists could remotely detonate a bomb hidden with laptop in the cargo with the help of a smartphone. Yet the ban is only on laptop carrying inside the cabin. It is a poorly thought of ban that would not affect security much.

2. Data security

It is a common practice for security officers to check luggage at check points. Your data could be under surveillance which could be embarrassing or compromised in any way. In order to keep data secure, one may have to implement extra measures like encrypting data with the help of software to keep content secure and free from prying eyes.

3. Fire alert in the cargo

Federal Aviation Administration issues strict warning against placing of lithium-ion-batteries inside the cargo where fire can go undetected longer and will be difficult to extinguish. These batteries pack large amount of energies in a very small packed space which can result in explosion. Banning laptop in the cabin would lead to large number of laptops going into cargo and hence posing additional danger.

Better screening measures for electronic devices should be developed instead of banning them from cabin but still allowing in the cargo.