Washington: The US government is temporarily barring passengers on certain flights originating in eight countries from 10 international airports in Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia (2), Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (2).
The reason for the ban was not immediately clear.
US security officials would not comment.
The ban was revealed yesterday in statements from Royal Jordanian Airlines and the official news agency of Saudi Arabia.
A US official said the ban will affect nine airlines in total, and the Transportation Security Administration will inform the affected airlines at 3 am Eastern time today.
The officials were not authorised to disclose the details of the ban ahead of a public announcement and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Royal Jordanian said cellphones and medical devices were excluded from the ban. Everything else, the airline said, would need to be packed in checked luggage.
Royal Jordanian said the electronics ban affects its flights to New York, Chicago, Detroit and Montreal.