NEW DELHI: Flyers in India will not be allowed to carry certain models of Apple MacBook Pro laptops on flights due to concerns that their batteries may overheat and catch fire.The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Monday said it “requests all air passengers not to fly with the affected models either as hand baggage or checked-in baggage until the battery has been verified/certified as safe or replaced by the manufacturer.”This order, the regulator says, is being issued after Apple recalled a limited number of older generation 15-inch MacBook Pro laptops sold primarily between September 2015 and February 2017 “due to fears that their batteries may overheat and pose a safety risk.”Issued by DGCA chief Arun Kumar, this will be valid for flyers within India as well as for those boarding international flights from the country.Apple had on June 20, 2019, issued an “important notice for batteries in certain MacBook Pro units” which said: “Apple announced a voluntary recall of a limited number of older generation 15-inch MacBook Pro units which contain a battery that may overheat and pose a safety risk. The units were sold primarily between September 2015 and February 2017 and can be identified by their product serial number. The recall does not affect any other 15-inch MacBook Pro units or other Mac notebooks. Since customer safety is a top priority, Apple is asking customers to stop using affected 15-inch MacBook Pro units. Customers should visit apple.com/support/15-inch-macbook-pro-battery-recall for details on product eligibility and how to have a battery replaced, free of charge.”Following this, earlier this month the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and American Federal Aviation Administration asked airlines to take steps accordingly. This led to international airlines banning the carriage of the affected MacBook Pro laptops on flights either in check-in or carry-on.On Sunday, Singapore Airlines (SIA), a major operator to India, said on its website: “Customers are to refrain from bringing the affected (MacBook Pro) models either as hand-carry or in checked baggage until the battery has been verified as safe or replaced by the manufacturer. Please visit Apple’s MacBook Pro Battery Recall Program page to get more information on whether your product is affected, as well as on the available battery replacement options.”Thai and Cathay Pacific are among the other foreign airlines which also fly to India and are no longer allowing 15-inch MacBook Pro notebooks sold between September 2015 and February 2017 on the aircraft either as carry-on or checked luggage.The first device to banned onboard aircraft was the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 in 2016 due to fears that its battery may catch fire and explode.