Security Is Tight At U.S. Airports

An Egyptian military solider holds a cup of tea as he guards the door of a polling station in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, May 24, 2012. In a wide-open race that will define the nation's future political course, Egyptians voted Thursday on the second day of a landmark presidential election that will produce a successor to longtime authoritarian ruler Hosni Mubarak. (AP Photo/Manu Brabo) / Manu Brabo

Passengers in the United States faced long lines, heightened security and flight cancellations Thursday after authorities in London uncovered a terror plot aimed at airlines traveling from Britain to the U.S.

In major U.S. airports, guards armed with rifles stood at security checkpoints, and passengers were met by signs warning that all liquids were now banned from carry-on luggage.

Security workers opened every carry-on bag that passed through one terminal at Baltimore-Washington Airport, and all the flights there were delayed.

"It's better alive than dead," said Bob Chambers, whose flight from Baltimore to Detroit for a business meeting was delayed more than an hour. "It's inconvenient, but we'll make it."

The governors of California, Massachusetts and New York called in the National Guard to bolster security.

In the wake of the plot, U.S. homeland security officials raised the threat level for flights between Britain and the U.S. to red, the highest level, for the first time ever, and domestic flights to orange, the second highest level. This will mean big changes for U.S. travelers.

"No liquids or gels of any kind will be permitted in carry-on baggage. Such items must be in checked baggage. This includes all beverages, shampoo, sun tan lotion, creams, toothpaste, hair gel, and other items of similar consistency," a Homeland Security statement said.

The plot in Britain targeted flights from Britain to the U.S., particularly to New York, Washington and California on United Airlines, American Airlines and Continental Airlines Inc., a counterterrorism official said Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said the plot appeared to have been engineered by al Qaeda, the terrorist group that hijacked two planes from Boston on Sept. 11, 2001, and flew them into the World Trade Center towers in New York.

Security officials stressed they have no knowledge of any current imminent threat against any U.S. flight, and they expressed confidence that the plot to bomb inbound flights from London has been thwarted, reports CBS News correspondent Bob Orr.

Passengers arriving for flights Thursday and discovering the suddenly tightened security clogged the checkpoints as bags were searched, leaving long lines.

At John F. Kennedy Airport in New York, Sonia Gomes De Mesquita, 40, of London, waited nervously to board a British Airways flight to London's Heathrow Airport. Her family had urged her not to get on the plane.

"You wake up and what are you going to do?" she said. "The flight is today."

She said she checked all her belongings rather than risk having something confiscated. "I even checked in my book."

At Newark Airport in New Jersey, the security checkpoint line for Terminal B, home to most international flights, stretched the entire length of the terminal — roughly six football fields — and was barely moving.

• no previous page
• next

1/2

[rational12]

I don't know when we're finally going to get it; you can never find the bombs, you have to find the bombers!

This mass murder was prevented by intelligence work, not by airport security, although we must tighten this even further,

Liquids can be carried onboard in body cavities or simply taped in plastic bags on the person, under the arms, between the legs, etc. The electricity to ignite is already on the plane in several places. Extra wires could be easily concealed in a necklace, ring, or wound into a tiny ball that would escape detection.

We must have background checks before flight and expert interrogation at the airport. Not a bunch of bunnies converted from food service workers, but highly skilled and trained people.

Anyone raising the slightest suspicion should be given a full body x-ray. Profiling, although somewhat useful, is not the answer; bombers could easily be blue-eyed blond females from Vassar. Any alienated person can be converted into a human bomb.

Yes, this is expensive. Yes, it will take time to implement; the terrorists may be stupid, but they do not lack intelligence and they spend every waking hour scheming ways to commit mass murder. If I can figure it out in a few minutes, imagine what they can do.

Of course the long term solution is that the Muslim community must integrate into society at large; we have to help them, to reach out to them. This is going to take decades; until then we'll live with it.

[ibogans]

i understand the rules for future flying, but i think it was unfair for the people who where already in the airports that where checking in had to be told they could not carry on certain items, being they already had there bags packed and where un-awhare of the terror alert. that was like telling them take all there money and throw it in the trash, as if we can get a hold of money anytime.

[kathywathy-2009]

Dumb restriction??? get over it. This is done to protect us! who cares about a bottle of hair product or whatever, that can be replaced lives cannot!!!!

[lvpjdh]

Yes, it can be inconvenient to not be able to take things such as a beverage or shampoo, etc on the plane, however it seems to me a very small price to pay for the safety of human lives. The lyrics of a song "High Price of Freedom" really stand out to me. Is it really worth risking innocent lives for something as small and insignificant as toiletries and beverages? The people need to try to understand that the heightened security regulations are not to inconvenience them, but to defend and protect them as free people.

[dstarkey78]

I agree with the last comment made about how no matter what, people are going to complain. Just deal with the minor inconvience, it is there to protect you, and if it bothers you so much, don't fly, find another mode of transportation.

Just a friendly word of advice for those flying; It has been my experince, when packing toiletries like shampoo in checked baggage,it is wise to place them in a ziploc bag before packing them. Between the luggage being tossed around and the pressure of the plane, some containers will leak and create a hugh mess out of your other items in the suitcase.

[tbcali]

Either way you look at it, you're going to get people that complain about the "unfair" restrictions; but then when a tragic event happens similar to 9/11, you're going to get the same people that complain about how poor the restrictions were.

Is the new restriction really that difficult? Just put your "liquid or gel" substance in a check-in bag and...PRESTO! You go on with your life.

[opinionso]

Perhaps signs at TSA checkpoints that say "Come early, come naked!" A little levity would certainly easy tensions.

[bwright923]

this is an ironic way to say it, but i don't like the new "public comment" area. I just want the news and don't need to see what someone's wackjob views are. Blog on myspace if you can't stand getting your view out and leave the news websites alone.

[vidiot3]

That is the best idea yet. It would save a lot of weight at take off, be more entertaining than an in flight movie, make waiting in the boarding area more fun, etc. However, the *** checks to search for contraband would be the best part.

[rtangen1]

I think this is th dumbest restriction ever. Yes the threat was real but in today's world bombs can be made into clothing, shoes ec. are we going to have to fly nude soon?