The Transportation Security Administration is looking to increase the number of full-body scanners at U.S. airports over the next few years as it reviews security procedures in the wake of the attempted bombing of a Northwest Airlines flight last week.
Experts say a full-body scanner likely would have detected the powdered explosive that terror suspect Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab allegedly stuffed in his underwear and ignited aboard a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas.
…
The full-body scanners allow TSA officials to look under clothing for any contraband — for instance, the PETN explosive sewn into the underwear of the alleged would-be bomber last week — but there are relatively few in operation now. Nineteen airports in the U.S. are using a total of 40 of the scanners. Only six airports use the scanners as their primary method of screening.But Gaches said TSA has purchased and received 150 more of the machines, and it plans to distribute them next year. The agency plans to purchase 300 more next year, at a cost of between $130,000-$170,000 per unit.
But the machines, which can “see” through clothing and reveal the shape of a passenger’s body, have raised privacy concerns and are currently optional. Any passenger who doesn’t want to go through a full-body scanner is allowed to request a pat-down instead.
Source/Full Story: FOXNews.com
Related Items
- December 9, 2009 — Governmentt Posts Airport Screening Guide on Internet in Error (0)
The Transportation Security Administration is investigating after they say an outdated version of their standard operating procedures manual was poste… - September 26, 2009 — Obama Praising New Jersey School District Is No Stranger to National Spotlight (0)
The Burlington Township School District in New Jersey is no stranger to political controversy.The district, which is being criticized for a video that… - August 14, 2009 — Airlines to Require More Passenger Data (0)
Airlines this week will begin requiring some people making reservations for domestic flights to submit their dates of birth and genders as part of … - May 15, 2009 — Indefinite Detention Weighed for Gitmo Prisoners (0)
The Obama administration is weighing plans to detain some terror suspects on U.S. soil — indefinitely and without trial — as part of a plan to re… - April 20, 2009 — Marine arrested for weapons in checked baggage (0)
A North Carolina-based Marine was arrested at Logan Airport Sunday after airport screeners found an undeclared semiautomatic weapon, ammunition, and b…
