U.S. mulls over banning passengers from carrying electronic gadgets on flights

U.S. media reported the order was sparked by intelligence gathered overseas. That includes laptops, cameras, gaming devices and tablets such as iPads.

The ban does not block mobile phones so terrorists can still play games, read their instructions from their handlers and remotely set off the bomb in the luggage bay.

It is not clear how long the new regulations will stay in place, but the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said “the new procedures remain in place until the threat changes”. The alleged bomber was the only fatality for the pilot managed to land plane. Had the device gone off at cruising altitude the plane would nearly certainly have been destroyed.

An Islamic militant group al-Shabab, linked with al-Qaeda, claimed that it was responsible for the incident.

Sources told CBS News the ban is not based on any specific threat.

The officials said the airlines have 96 hours to implement the security order or face being barred from flying to the US. The carrier said: “The airline’s policies have not changed but we will continue to work closely with the authorities in the U.S. and here in Abu Dhabi through the officials of the Customs and Border Protection Unit at the airport”.

Royal Jordanian’s tweet was deleted later in the day and a representative from the airline was not immediately available for comment. It noted that cellphones and medical devices are excluded from the ban.

“Carrying any electronic or electrical device on board the flight cabins is strictly prohibited”, the statement said, meaning that bringing out your iPad to watch a movie is apparently now a no-no on the carrier.

Electronic devices should be put inside checked baggage. The government-backed airline operates daily flights from Dubai International Airport to multiple American cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington.

The wires service also quotes congressional aides as saying Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly called members of Congress over the weekend to notify them of the move.

It is understood the indefinite ban was put in place as part of increased security measure is in response to an unspecified terrorism threat, and a United States government official said the ban had been under consideration for several weeks.