Posted on 06/07/2017 8:26:48 AM PDT by Reno89519
BALTIMORE (WJZ) — The rash of terror attacks in Great Britain come as the summer travel season is beginning. That means security measures, especially at airports, will see increased work loads, and passengers longer waits.
Finding and removing the everyday items that terrorists have turned into threats is a huge challenge, WJZ’s Alex DeMetrick reports.
And between now and Labor Day, a lot of Americans will spend time coming and going by air.
Since 9/11, passenger planes have been a high priority target for terrorists, with bombs bringing down a Russian airliner in Egypt, and blowing a hole in a Somali jet last year.
“Airplanes have been the common threat that we’ve seen over the past several years,” says Ben Yelin, of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security.
And the last line of defense is Transportation Security Administration security screening.
“A 9-volt battery,” says TSA officer Camille Morris. “A AA battery is fine. A AAA. A 9-volt battery is a huge power charge. The size of the battery that can take down a plane when attached to an explosive.”
That kind of threat prompted a ban on laptop and computer pads from airplane cabins flying from seven African and Middle Eastern countries this past spring. It could spread to domestic flights.
“The Department of Homeland Security is currently considering the possible expansion of that laptop ban,” says Lisa Farbstein, a TSA spokesperson. “No decision has been made.”
Meanwhile, things like peanut butter must go into checked bags, not carry-ons. Innocent mistakes that can slow down screening.
But for most, an abundance of caution is no mistake.
“With today’s terrorism, you can’t trust anybody,” one passenger said.
“It’s a determined enemy,” according to Farbstein. “They’re targeting transportation hubs, and so what we want to do is make sure you get to your destination safely, and go home safely.”
TSA is urging air travelers to give themselves more time during the summer. Arrive two hours before a domestic flight, and three hours before an international trip. They also ask that passengers do their part by reviewing what objects are allowed on carry ons and which must go into checked luggage.
Oh the horror of profiling!
Gotta trust that the airlines will fight this since they have turned to BYOD for onboard entertainment.
Hey, it’s part and parcel of life... or death.
Who the heck packs peanut butter?
Who the heck vacations out of the US these days?
Wow, thanks for informing all terrorists.
Hey!!! Maybe get rid of moozlums. Just maybe they are somehow connected to the problem?
And they don’t want President Trump to come?
But Timothy McVeigh!!
Or something.
If Trump’s trip to London is canceled or marred, the US should put London on a non-travel list. Boycott them and encourage Americans to enjoy the US this summer.
But that’s racists and denies TSA the opportunity to grope grandma and little babies.
My first thought too.
That should speed things up because then we can eliminate all the stupid baggage checks and body searches.
That will just cause a delay again, as I keep asking for another piece of bacon .. just to be sure.
A low dose Zanax puts me to sleep
I don’t fly.
More bacon!!!
BYOD? D=Data?
Bring Your Own Device. And, yes, since TSA and others may want to review and copy or download the data, yes D could also be Data. That is a concern putting it into checked bag, you have little way of knowing if it has been copied.
While American Tourism is a pittance of the overall economy, British Tourism is huge. Something like 9% of GDP.
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