Apple’s Retina MacBook Pro laptop banned from Nigerian flights

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) says Apple MacBook Pro laptops (Mid 2015, 15-inch Retina model) will no longer be allowed on flights.

In a memo issued by Abdullahi Sidi, NCAA’s director of operations and training, flight operators and service providers were directed to treat the matter as urgent and “carry out a procedure to ensure compliance”.

“This is to inform all operators and service providers that the carriage of MacBook Pro (Model: Retina, 15 MID-2015) with immediate effect is hereby barred on all flights,” the memo read.

“This product has been recalled by the manufacturer due to battery problems, this presents a risk to aviation safety due to overheating.

“You are all expected to treat this matter with the urgency it deserves.”

In a notice on its website, Apple had announced a recall of the laptops and advised customers to stop using the device.

“Apple has determined that, in a limited number of older generation 15-inch MacBook Pro units, the battery may overheat and pose a fire safety risk,” the manufacturer said.

“Affected units were sold primarily between September 2015 and February 2017 and product eligibility is determined by the product serial number.

“Customer safety is always Apple’s top priority, and we have voluntarily decided to replace affected batteries, free of charge.”

Owners of mid-2015 MacBook Pros were asked to visit a page on Apple’s website to submit their device’s serial number in order to find out if their notebooks are eligible for replacement.