Travelling with this recalled 15-inch MacBook Pro could mean getting stranded in another country

Apple recalled several versions of its 15-inch MacBook Pro, particularly the versions of the computer made from September 2015 and February 2017. Thanks to this, the Federal Aviation Authority in the United States put out a bulletin that said fliers with affected MacBook Pros would not be allowed to board a flight, due to the nature of the product flaw.

What’s wrong with my 15-inch MacBook Pro?

According to a report by Petapixel, a photographer named Julian Elliott from Britain has been detained in Vietnam after airport authorities barred him from boarding a plane with his MacBook Pro. This is because the unit has been recalled due to faulty batteries that have been said to explode even when not in use. Certainly not something anyone would want to have inside an airplane at any one time.

Julian was able to get into Vietnam with the MacBook Pro, but he has since been stranded in the country as he is unwilling to leave the laptop since it contained important components of his profession. He was forced to wait for the part of the MacBook Pro that will correct the problem and allow him to fly out of the country with the computer.

Is my 15-inch MacBook Pro part of the recall? How do I find out?

In case you wanted to know if your particular model of MacBook Pro is part of the recall, it’s simply a matter of finding your computer’s serial number and plugging it into a form.

According to a bulletin release on the Apple website, “the battery may overheat and pose a fire safety risk” in “a limited number” of Mid-2015 model 15-inch Retina MacBook Pros.

The service advisory was posted to the Apple website, where users can input their computer’s serial number to find out if their unit is affected.

What do I do about my 15-inch MacBook Pro?

If you find that your unit is affected by the flaw and that you’ve been sitting next to a fire hazard all this time, you can take the computer back to the official Apple service enter in your area so they can verify your claim and start the repair process. According to a report, the MacBook Pro would need a new battery and a service check. Only then would the passenger be able to board a plane with the item checked in.

It’s important to note, though, that the British photographer was able to enter Vietnam with the computer, and that he took a couple of domestic flights within the country with the offending MacBook Pro. He was barred from taking the laptop on his flight back home.

Your 15-inch MacBook Pro could catch fire spontaneously if it’s part of this recall

Signs that the MacBook Pro versions recalled were confirmed dangerous came when a Facebook user posted about his experience with his own unit, which caught fire in the middle of the night while he and his wife were sleeping.

The post above said that a small fire was generated by the laptop, and that it was indeed a very dangerous issue.

Were you ever stopped at Changi Airport or somewhere else for having this MacBook Pro version? Let us know in the comments!

Header image from Facebook account of Steve Gagne.