The sudden ban on electronics for flights coming into the United States and the UK came as a shock for most people as there was apparently no explanation as to why it was suddenly implemented. Now, new reports are revealing that an alleged plot to bring a bomb inside an airplane using an Apple iPad may have prompted the restriction.

The Department of Homeland Security previously announced last week that they will no longer allow passengers to bring in electronic devices larger than a smartphone into flights starting on March 20. The restriction is apparently only limited to eight particular countries with flights going into the US, namely Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan, Morocco, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

The UK then followed suit and implemented a similar restriction for six countries, namely Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. Officials in the country and in the UK didn't immediately comment about why they had placed such as restriction so suddenly.

According to the Guardian, security sources have revealed that the countries believe that there is currently a threat to bring in a bomb inside a plane using an iPad shell or a fake iPad. It is not yet clear where the sources got their information or even the identity of the group that is believed to be behind the plot.

As per CBS, US officials have long been trying to figure out how terrorist are managing to bring in explosives into flights using consumer electronics. In 2016, a flight out of Mogadishu, Somalia, was damaged due to an explosion from a bomb placed inside a laptop. One passenger died after the bomb blew a hole on the side of the plane.

Terrorist groups have been known to smuggle in explosives inside flights using shoes, water bottles, and other small carry-on items in attempted attacks. However, consumers electronics are slowly becoming the new method as security personnel doesn't usually check these items before boarding.