Increased airport security impacts returning students

Increased airport security measures have recently been implemented as a response to a failed attempt to blow up a U.S. jetliner in late December, creating problems for some students returning to Drexel after winter break.
The Transportation Security Administration put the tightened security procedures into action, mainly for travelers flying to the U.S. from other countries.
According to CNN, the current security directive requires airlines to pat down all passengers headed to the U.S. and to check all carry-on luggage. Additionally, airlines have been given discretion to take further measures in order to prevent people from assembling or igniting a bomb onboard a plane. Authorized actions include prohibiting passengers from keeping blankets or pillows and keeping passengers seated at all times.
Sophomore biology major Sukhdeep Singh flew back to the U.S. on Jan. 2 from India, where he went for the holiday.
"Flying back from London, all the flights were extremely delayed because everyone was patted down and their baggage [was] checked right before getting on the plane," Singh said.
Singh was also on the receiving end of the discretionary measures of the airlines.
"The last hour of the flight was extremely uncomfortable because the flight attendants collected all the blankets and pillows and we were ordered to remove anything from our laps. We were also ordered to remain in our seats … even if we needed to use the bathroom," Singh said.
As of Monday, tougher screening measures were put into place for passengers arriving from 14 different countries including Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Yemen and Cuba, as stated by the BBC. As part of these procedures, travelers arriving from any other foreign country may be searched at random.
08/01/10 Zohaib Ahmad/The Triangle.org, USA

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Categories: Airports Jan 2010, Foreign Jan 2010, Safety Jan 2010