As the busy holiday season approaches, travelers in the US – as well as those at O’Hare worldwide Airport and Midway Airport – could be impacted by the changes and flight cancellations may be a possibility if security measures don’t meet USA standards.
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“While we can not discuss the full details of our aviation security measures, or the enhancements noted today, I want to assure the traveling public that the Department of Homeland Security is working closely with our domestic and worldwide partners to evaluate the cause of the crash of Flight 9268, and will continue to take appropriate precautionary security measures”, he said. Authorities suspect that’s how a bomb could’ve made it on board.
“These measures are not being taken in response to a specific threat to the homeland but it is the prudent exercise of an abundance of caution given the information that USA officials have learned about this airline disaster in the Sinai Peninsula”, Earnest said Friday. The United Kingdom and the Netherlands have canceled all flights to Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh for several days, whereas the French government recommended to temporarily refrain from trips to the resort.
Many lawmakers on Capitol Hill appear willing to believe that ISIS downed the plane through terrorist attack. “They’ll look at really the soup to nuts in terms of what goes on at that airport, and that’s a good thing”.
Such efforts aren’t without flaws.
Foreign airports where US airlines operate must comply with Transportation Safety Administration regulations. That could potentially include matching of luggage to manifest lists before takeoff.
Changes were already planned in the screening process after screeners failed to detect weapons during tests by Inspector General employees in September.
There is the possibility of more random screening, more swabbing of hands looking for any indications of explosive residue and more canine teams possibly in airports.
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The TSA is promising new protocols.
