New rules limit electronics in airplane cabins on flights to US from select countries

Restrictions disallow most electronic devices as carry-ons

DETROIT – There are new restrictions involving carry-ons for air travelers, but only those who are flying into the United States from certain countries.

The rules apply to flights on Royal Jordanian, which tweeted Monday about the restrictions. Now, cellphones are about the only thing passengers are allowed to take onboard. Laptops and tablets, including children's games, are out.

A nonstop flight from Yemen to Detroit is about 12 hours long.

"We kindly inform our passengers departing to and arriving from the United States that carrying any electronic or electrical device onboard the flight cabins is strictly prohibited," the airline announced.

Cellphones and anything needed for medical treatment are exempt from the restrictions, but laptops, tablets, cameras, DVD players and electronic games are required to go into checked baggage.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations said this is another example of targeting people of Middle Eastern descent.

An aviation official told CNN there are no U.S. carriers affected because none travel nonstop from the countries in question.

There are still many unanswered questions, starting with which countries are involved. If they are the same as the countries listed in the Trump administration's travel ban, it's unclear if this is simply an attempt to make travel from those countries more difficult.


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