TSA outlines measures for passengers leaving Tucson airport
Published on Friday, August 11, 2006
Inside Tucson Business report
Passengers departing Tucson International Airport will be subject to increased emergency procedures for airline travelers put in place Aug. 10 by the Department of Homeland Security in light of the terrorist threat revealed that day when British authorities arrested 21 people in a plot to blow up airliners destined for the United States.
John C. Sides, federal security director in Tucson for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), outlined some of the measures put in place affecting passengers departing Tucson:
• Liquids and gels are not permitted to be carried on an airplane, or in carry-on luggage. Among the items prohibited are beverages (including those purchased in the airport), shampoo, toothpaste, lotions, sunscreens or creams. These items can be packed in checked luggage.
• Formula, breast milk and juices for infants is permitted but requires additional scrutiny.
• Liquid prescription drugs and insulin is permitted with proper identification.
• All passengers are required to remove their shoes to clear security screening.
• Wait times at security checkpoints to each of the airport concourses have increased. The longest wait on Thursday was 40 minutes.
• All carry-on bags will be searched for liquids at the gate before passengers board an airliner.
• Passengers traveling to London will be subjected to increased security checks.
Sides encouraged passengers to pack carry-on bags lightly to help speed the process.
“Security has increased, it is more invasive and it will take more time,” he said. “I cannot tell you what will happen at any time but I encourage passengers to be patient.”
As for matters of whether a flight is on time, that’s not up to the TSA, Sides said.
“Passengers should always check with their individual carriers for that information,” he said.
The terror alert level for flights originated in the United Kingdom has been raised to the highest level, red. The alert for other flights to, from and within the United States has been raised to the second highest level, or orange.
At a news conference Thursday, Sides would not detail all of the security measures being put into place at Tucson International Airport saying “some will be readily obvious and others are behind the scenes.”
He also said the directives his office is receiving are rapidly changing, which could affect security screening, either by making it go more quickly or slow it down.
Separate from this latest threat Sides said Tucson airport is installing new explosive detection technology this fall.
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