The United Nation’s specialised agency International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has started reviewing laptop and other portable / personal electronic devices (PEDs) restrictions onboard airlines to better address passenger security and safety concerns.

The review comes in the wake of the US and UK flight ban and restrictions imposed on laptops, tablets and other PEDs. 

ICAO noted that with the increasing use of laptops or other devices in aircraft, security and safety risks must be balanced while imposing any restrictions on passengers’ PEDs being permitted in aircraft cabins.

ICAO Council president Dr Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu said: “Our guiding priority in the ICAO Council, when we review this matter this fall during our 212th Session, will be to ensure that all related security and safety risks are fully considered and prudently balanced.”

A multidisciplinary cargo safety group has been formed to evaluate the combined safety, security and facilitation aspects of the issue.

ICAO’s aviation security panel recommended the establishment of a new task force to further review the security risks over the potential for improvised explosive devices to be concealed in PEDs.

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"Our guiding priority in the ICAO Council, when we review this matter this fall during our 212th Session, will be to ensure that all related security and safety risks are fully considered and prudently balanced."

At its 39th Assembly in October 2016, ICAO was tasked with the development of a new global aviation security plan for the coordination of global responses to aviation security risks.

The first draft of the new plan was backed by the aviation security panel and will be made available for review by the agency council later this month.

In addition, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) 73rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) recently adopted safety resolution to enhance aviation security.

ICAO sets standards and regulations for aviation safety, security, efficiency, capacity and environmental protection. It has 191 member states and serves as the platform for cooperation in all fields of civil aviation.


Image: Laptops and other PEDs have been highlighted as a risk to aircraft and passenger security in recent months. Photo: courtesy of International Civil Aviation Organisation.