The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is considering
expanding its laptop ban to 71 additional airports but also is working with those
airports so the ban will not be necessary, according to DHS Secretary John
Kelly.
In testimony to the House Homeland Security Committee on
Wednesday, Kelly said the ban on bringing large electronic devices on board for
U.S.-inbound flights—currently in
effect at 10 airports in the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey—is in
response to "a very serious, constant threat to knock down an
airplane." At a conference in Malta next week, a DHS deputy will present
"minimum increased security standards" related to that threat, Kelly said.
"This has stimulated a lot more cooperation from our
partners overseas, and we're looking for ways we can mitigate the threat,"
he said. "In an attempt not to be put on the ban list, many countries are
leaning forward. If they meet those standards, we will not ban those large electronic
devices," Kelly said.
DHS
also is working with the Department of Transportation to analyze potential fire
hazards posed by a larger volume of lithium batteries in cargo holds, he said.