US: Laptop ban's European expansion 'still on table'

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON

A heavily-discussed expansion of a laptop ban to include European-origin flights is still under consideration, according to a U.S. official on Tuesday.

Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly told European Home Affairs Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos and Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc the "expansion is still on the table", but did not announce it during a conference phone call, according to the department.

"Secretary Kelly affirmed he will implement any and all measures necessary to secure commercial aircraft flying to the United States -- including prohibiting large electronic devices from the passenger cabin -- if the intelligence and threat level warrant it," Homeland Security spokesman David Lapan said.

The announcement comes after online news website Politico reported the U.S. had decided not to pursue the European extension.

Lapan told Anadolu Agency the story was "absolutely wrong" before the department issued its statement.

The U.S. in March banned passengers from carrying electronics larger than a cellphone aboard commercial flights coming to the U.S. from 10 international airports in eight Muslim-majority countries, including Istanbul's Ataturk International.

The move was made based on intelligence suggesting Daesh is plotting to down passenger aircraft using bombs concealed in electronic devices.

During their Tuesday call, Kelly and the European officials agreed "to raise the bar for aviation security globally", the department said.