US flights security measures has recently been ordered to be tightened by the Department of Homeland Security Plans over unspecified global threats. In ordinance of the Obama administration, US flights security measures needs to be stepped up. Flights include some which are headed to the United States from Europe and the Middle East.
The order for heightened US flights security measures was a result of concern over threats of terrorists possibly growing more sophisticated bombs which are designed to avoid airport screening. According to the Wall Street Journal, the announcement for tighter US flights security measures was followed an ABC News report where the Obama administration expressed concerns about Syrian militants creating bombs which could get around present security measures.
Despite growing concerns, CNN reports that stricter US flights security measures do not involve U.S. domestic flights and that threats aren't specifically related to Independence Day in the U.S. In the meantime, reports say that changes to US flights security measures will be visible as early as next week at some overseas airports with direct flights to the U.S.
The announcement on stiff US flights security measures was announced by the Department of Homeland Security Wednesday, whilst mentioning concern over global threats.
According to Secretary Jeh Johnson of Homeland Security in a statement, he has fixed the Transportation Security Administration on the implementation of enhanced US flights security measures "in the coming days" at selected overseas airports.
Johnson said, 'We will work to ensure these necessary steps pose as few disruptions to travelers as possible. We are sharing recent and relevant information with our foreign allies and are consulting the aviation industry.'
Despite reports citing no specific steps or airports in the implementation of enhanced US flights security measures, the WSJ reports that a person familiar with the directive said the command on tighter US flights security will cover more than a dozen foreign airports in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
According to a homeland security official, the changes on the US flights security measures will be focusing on airports in Europe and the Middle East. The official also mentioned more screenings and swabs of fliers and baggage for the detection explosives traces.
Passengers can breathe a sigh of relief as the directive on enhanced US flights security measures reportedly do not involve changes to what travelers can take during flights. However, passengers should expect additional inspections and scanning of shoes, electronics, and in some cases, another screening before boarding gates.
According to Bruce Hoffman, a terrorism expert at Georgetown University, Homeland security officials might probably be concerned over nonmetallic bombs since the TSA has already issued a warning about such bombs. The bombs, which definitely needs better US flights security measures for detection, was described as an improvised explosive device which are not be easily exposed to metal detectors.
After the 9/11 al Qaeda attacks, the U.S. aviation security has shifted its focus from hijackings to plastic and other explosives which can easily be carried aboard planes and hidden in baggage.
According to a former antiterrorism agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service named John Michaud, new terrorist movements are attracting followers from outside the Middle East, which makes pinpoint terrorists more difficult.
He said, 'We're seeing more and more European, non-Arab looking people join this group, and that makes it much easier for them to leave a European country and bring a device to the United States.' He is reportedly referring to the Sunni Islamist group, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, or ISIS.
US flights security measures will result in airlines and foreign airports being required to meet certain security requirements set by the Transportation Security Administration so that they could continue providing nonstop service to U.S. cities.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
