Hand luggage threat on airlines

UNITED KINGDOM | Friday, 11 August 2006 | Views [9585]

On the morning of 10 August, police issued a statement saying that a terrorist plot to destroy at least ten planes in mid-flight had been thwarted in a joint operation by the anti-terrorist branch of the Metropolitan Police and security services. It is thought that the plan was to detonate explosive devices taken onto aircraft in hand lauggage on flights from the United Kingdom to the United States. Security sources are said to believe that liquid explosives would have been used and would therefore have been missed during the X-ray screening of luggage. Reports indicate that at least 18 people were arrested in London last night, the culmination of a counter-terrorism operation that had lasted several months. The current threat level in the UK has been placed on 'critical' - the highest possible level. This means an attack is expected imminently, indicating an extremely high level of threat to the country. Security at all the airports in the UK has been tightened and delays should be expected.

There have been reports of police checking cars before they enter airports; there will be traffic delays in and around all airports. The Department of Transport has set out a number of security measures to be followed at British airports. Hand luggage will not be allowed on flights and only the bare essentials carried in transparent plastic bags will be allowed.

Transport updates

Numerous international carriers have cancelled all flights into the UK, and delays of several days are expected. Security has been increased at all ports in the UK, as well as at the Eurotunnel terminal. Numerous airports are being affected by enhanced security screenings and searches. Below please find information on major airports currently affected:

1. Heathrow International Airport has been closed to all inbound flights not already in the air, and check-in and hand search processes, as well as x-ray screening, are being effected across all four terminals. Hand luggage restrictions are in place and only necessary items will be allowed onboard as long as they are carried in transparent plastic bags. Only travellers with urgent travel plans should proceed to the airport. Authorities are advising travellers to allow for delays and that they should rather use public transport to alleviate traffic congestion. Travellers not requiring urgent travel are requested to avoid travelling to the airport altogether.
2. George Best/Belfast International Airport has hand luggage restrictions in place and only necessary items will be allowed onboard as long as they are carried in transparent plastic bags. Travellers are requested to check-in at least two hours earlier owing to increased security searches creating delays and backlogs.
3. Birmingham International Airport has requested that passengers arrive at least two hours earlier and have travel documents in-hand to facilitate a speedier check-in. Hand luggage restrictions are in place and only necessary items will be allowed onboard as long as they are carried in transparent plastic bags.
4. Cardiff International Airport have drafted in additional staff to cope with increased security search procedures and have advised travellers to allow for extra time owing to lengthy delays. Hand luggage restrictions are in place and only necessary items will be allowed onboard as long as they are carried in transparent plastic bags.
5. Gatwick Airport reports that overcrowding is posing a health and safety risk. Increased security searches and screenings are in place and hand luggage restrictions are in place and only necessary items will be allowed onboard as long as they are carried in transparent plastic bags.
6. Glasgow Airport has increased security and delays are currently being experienced due to increased security searches and screenings. All shops in the airport have been closed and extra security staff have been drafted in to assist. Hand luggage restrictions are in place and only necessary items will be allowed onboard as long as they are carried in transparent plastic bags. Furthermore, all trains and stations along Scotland-London routes are being subjected to regular searches; travel disruptions are likely.
7. Leeds Bradford Airport has warned travellers to expect lengthy delays due to increased security screening procedures; armed police are controlling access to terminals. Hand luggage restrictions are in place and only necessary items will be allowed onboard as long as they are carried in transparent plastic bags. Travellers have been advised to arrive early, as check-in delays are occurring.
8. Luton Airport reports lengthy delays owing to increased security screening procedures, and advises that only travellers with valid travel documents will be allowed access to the airport. Travellers are advised to arrive early, as check-in delays are occurring. Hand luggage restrictions are in place and only necessary items will be allowed onboard as long as they are carried in transparent plastic bags.
9. Manchester Airport has hand luggage restrictions in place and only necessary items will be allowed onboard as long as they are carried in transparent plastic bags. Shops in the airport have been closed and travellers have been advised to arrive early due to delays caused by increased security measures.
10. Newcastle Airport has hand luggage restrictions in place and only necessary items will be allowed onboard as long as they are carried in transparent plastic bags. The main airport terminal is congested and long delays are expected on all flights. Only travellers with valid flight documents should travel to the airport; friends and family will be denied access.
11. Robin Hood/Doncaster Airport has hand luggage restrictions in place and only necessary items will be allowed onboard as long as they are carried in transparent plastic bags. Travellers have been advised to arrive early, as check-in delays are occurring.
12. Stansted Airport has cancelled approximately two thirds of all outbound flights and all inbound flights are being disrupted. Travellers have been advised to arrive at the airport early, as check-in delays are occurring due to increased security measures. The airport’s drop-off point has been closed by armed police and armed officers are controlling access to the terminal. Hand luggage restrictions are in place and only necessary items will be allowed onboard as long as they are carried in transparent plastic bags. Only travellers with urgent travel plans should proceed to the airport, and authorities are advising travellers to allow for delays. Travellers not requiring urgent travel are requested to avoid going to the airport altogether. Traffic congestion is being experienced on all roads to the airport.

Security advice

Following additional security measures, including enhanced physical searches and x-ray screenings of passengers, the following items will be allowed onto aircraft as long as they are placed and carried in a transparent plastic bag:

1. Pocket-size wallets and pocket-size purses plus their contents (for example money, credit cards, identity cards. Please note that no handbags are permitted). Any larger items must be checked with ordinary luggage that goes into the hold of the plane.
2. Travel documents essential for the journey (for example, passports and travel tickets)
3. Prescription medicines and medical items sufficient and essential for the flight. This excludes those in liquid form, unless verified as authentic by security staff.
4. Spectacles and sunglasses without cases
5. Contact lens holders, without bottles of solution
6. For those travelling with an infant - baby food, milk (the contents of each bottle must be tasted by the accompanying passenger in the presence of security staff at the airport )
7. Sanitary items sufficient and essential for the flight (nappies, wipes, creams and nappy disposal bags)
8. Female sanitary items sufficient and essential for the flight, if tissues (unboxed) and/or unboxed (for example, tampons, pads, towels and wipes)
9. Keys (but no electrical key fobs)
10. No articles will be permitted to be carried in pockets

All passengers should expect to be hand searched. Footwear and all items carried will also be x-ray screened.

Pushchairs and walking aids will be x-ray screened, and only airport-provided wheelchairs will be allowed through the screening point.

All passengers boarding flights to the USA and all the items they are carrying, including those acquired after the central screening point, will be subjected to a secondary search at the boarding gate. Any liquids being carried should be declared, as security staff is under instruction to confiscate all liquids. This includes duty-free items purchased, as well as additional food and beverage.

It is inevitable that delays will occur while enhanced security measures are carried out. Passengers must allow extra time for their journeys and should be aware that all airports in the UK will be very busy. Passengers are advised to take public transport to the airport. It is possible that only passengers with tickets will be allowed into the airport itself should they become overcrowded.

Laptops and other electronic storage devices

Travellers concerned that their electronic data may be compromised or obtained by unauthorised persons are advised either to leave their laptops at home prior to travel and obtain another computer at their destination or to place their laptop within their luggage, covered by clothing or other belongings. It is important to ensure that laptops are password protected and encrypted to prevent unauthorised access while in transit.

Options available for transporting data are limited to either CD or DVD storage or the use of a memory stick. These can then be hidden or secreted in luggage that goes into the hold in order to prevent identity theft or the loss of valuable or sensitive electronic data. At this stage, memory sticks, CDs and DVDs are not allowed to be taken onto the airplane as hand luggage. red24 advises passengers either to transport these items in their luggage or to store essential data online on a secure storage site for retrieval once they have reached their destination.

Tags: travel safety, uk, london, airports