In the space of 24 hours, the US and UK issued directives barring passengers from taking personal electronic devices larger than a smartphone in their carry-on bags onboard certain flights.

The UK government has banned large personal devices in the cabin on flights from six Middle East and North African countries, under restrictions that apply to all operators on those routes.

Have years of work by Emirates and other airlines to cultivate a safe, friendly image in the US been spoiled in one fell swoop?

DEVELOPING NEWS: The UK government is expected to make an announcement later on March 21, limiting the carriage of personal electronic devices just hours after a similar sudden move by US authorities.

Australian turboprop operator Regional Express Holdings (Rex) has grounded six of its Saab 340s for checks, in response to the loss of an aircraft’s propeller while inflight.

An Antonov AN26 passenger aircraft, operated by South Sudanese carrier South Supreme Airlines, has reportedly crashed and been destroyed by fire with no fatalities.

I flew to Abu Dhabi for a short work trip in January and, if I’m honest, I found the security and screening processes at that airport ahead of my flight back to Washington DC a bit annoying. However, given today’s announcement about new US security rules for flights from that airport and nine others, most of them also in the Middle East, the focus of my annoyance has changed.

Etihad Airways, Emirates Airline, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines are among the carriers affected by a US government emergency order that bans passengers from keeping their personal electronic devices in their carry-on bags on flights to the US.