Damaged lithium batteries and devices using these batteries have been banned in all flights of Vietnam Airlines, the country’s national flag carrier was quoted by Vietnam News Agency as saying on Wednesday.
Specifically, Vietnam Airlines prohibited all passengers and crew members from bringing to planes lithium batteries that are either damaged or included in the recall list of their manufacturers as well as electronic devices using damaged lithium batteries.
The devices using to-be-recalled lithium batteries are allowed to be on board provided that they are in switch-off mode and packed in carry-on luggage.
Earlier on Oct. 28, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam issued a ban on air transportation of damaged lithium batteries and electronic devices using faulty lithium batteries that are subject to manufacturers’ recall, aiming to ensure safety for air transportation activities.
The authority also lifted a flight ban it had imposed on 15-inch MacBook Pro laptops whose batteries are defective. Accordingly, the MacBook Pro laptops produced between September 2015 and February 2017 that either are turned off or have their batteries replaced are now permitted to bring to planes.
The authority’s order took effect from Nov. 15 and was applied for all local and foreign airlines operating flights to and out of Vietnam.