Apple put out a recall notice earlier this summer for a 2015 MacBook Pro model because its battery can overheat. The FAA is reminding passengers that they can’t fly with one of these if it has not yet been repaired.
Flying with with any recalled battery is verboten
This MacBook is not being singled out for special treatment. The Department of Transportation (DOT) has a policy dating back years that bans passengers to fly with lithium batteries if they are the subject of a safety recall. The agency’s policy “forbids the transport of batteries and battery-powered devices which are likely to create sparks or generate a dangerous evolution of heat.”
The 2015 MacBook Pro meets this qualification. Apple warns that “the battery may overheat and pose a fire safety risk.” Pictures of a MacBook Pro that experienced this problem show a battery that burned through the laptop’s outer casing.
Find out if your MacBook was recalled
Apple recalled the mid-2015 15-inch MacBook Pro with a Retina display. The company’s recall page allows users to type in the serial number of their computer to see if it’s part of this program.
The problem is relatively rare — only 26 reported incidents prompted the recall. Still, owners of affected units shouldn’t procrastinate about getting it serviced.
For one thing, a melting MacBook is significant danger. Also, the service is free and includes a battery replacement. This could add years to the usability of the MacBook as batteries inevitably wear out with cycles of charging and discharging.
Via Bloomberg
