Three Guilty in UK Bomb Threat

An English court found three British Muslim men guilty on Sept 7 of plotting to bomb at least seven transatlantic airliners in 2006, in a conspiracy that changed air travel. They were convicted of planning to detonate explosive devices on board aircraft that were to be fueled by explosives carried in soft drink bottles. Since then, all but a small amount of carry-on liquids are banned from passenger cabins. At a previous trial the defendants were found guilty of conspiracy to murder, but the jury failed to rule whether they had conspired to blow up aircraft departing London Heathrow for major cities in the U.S. and Canada. As many as 1,500 passengers and crew might have been killed in the attacks. The verdict in the retrial was lauded by UK Home Secretary Alan Johnson.

Technology Could Ease Carryon Liquids Ban

It is reported that transport officials in the UK are testing new X-ray technology that could end size restrictions for carryon liquids. The machines being tested at Newcastle Airport read the bar code on a bottle of liquid, then use X-ray beams to test the "spectral signature" of the bottle's contents. The machine then uses that "signature" to distinguish between harmless liquids, such as water or alcohol, and potential explosives such as hydrogen peroxide. This detection process works even if the bottle is completely sealed. Several airlines said they were eager to see relaxed rules for carryon liquids, when appropriate. "With better technology coming on stream, it is appropriate to review the restrictions to ensure passengers are able to make as easy a journey as possible through airport security checks," said a spokeswoman for Virgin Atlantic. A British Airways spokesperson said international cooperation would be key. "It would be unhelpful to maintain a liquid ban at some airports and not at others," she noted.

American Air Beats Discrimination Lawsuit

It is reported that a U.S. federal district court recently ruled in favor of American Airlines in a lawsuit brought by five men of Iraqi descent who claimed their nationality caused a captain to cancel a flight to Chicago in 2007. The flight deck crew's decision was not deemed "arbitrary and capricious," a key legal standard in the case, the federal court ruled. "The fact that the individuals who engaged in the suspicious conduct were of Middle Eastern/Iraqi descent does not support the conclusion that the decision to return to the gate was race-based rather than fact-based," the court determined. The airliner returned to the gate and police interviewed the men. Everyone, including the Iraqi natives, departed San Diego the next day on another flight. American denied allegations of racial discrimination. "We felt all along that the crew acted properly and were only doing so in the interests of safety. ... There was never any ill intent on their part," American Air spokesman Tim Smith, is quoted as saying after the ruling.

Global Entry Kiosks

International travelers flying into the Bay Area are now using Global Entry Kiosks at San Francisco International. The Department of Homeland Security installed the Global Entry Kiosks there, one of 13 airports nationwide to receive funding for the timesaving program. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection pilot program allows pre-approved members to bypass the typical customs process when arriving at a U.S. airport. Passengers can sign up ahead of time by submitting an online application, then provide digital fingerprints and complete an interview at a participating airport. If approved, travelers can then insert their passport or lawful permanent resident card into the airport kiosk, provide a digital fingerprint, answer customs declaration questions on a touch screen and give their receipt to a border protection officer. Since DHS launched the program in June 2008, about 16,000 travelers have used the kiosks more than 51,000 times at seven airports. Global Entry membership is available at http://www.globalentry.gov and costs $100. Membership is available to U.S. residents 14 and older.

Footwear Frisk

It is reported by the Toronto Star that Canadian airline passengers are not required to remove their shoes for security screening unless they are flying to the U.S., according to a policy bulletin issued by Canada's Air Transport Security Authority (ATSA) in April and recently obtained by The Canadian Press through a freedom of information request. "We sent that reminder to make sure we're consistent and we have the same operations" among 6,000 ATSA agents, according to a government spokesman. The U.S. Transportation Security Administration put its shoe inspection policy in place in 2002 after British citizen Richard Reid was arrested for trying to bomb a flight to Miami with explosives hidden in his shoes.

Tolerance for Religious Daggers

It is reported that a bill before the California Assembly would require law enforcement officers to undergo education and sensitivity training regarding small blades carried by faithful Sikhs as part of their religion. The daggers, known as kirpans, are one of the five articles of faith that Sikhs are required to carry on their person, though law enforcement often views the knives as a threat. Sikhs say the knives, along with their turbans, often get them singled out for extra screening by airport security. Sikhs are mandated by their religion to keep five articles of faith on their person at all times. The kirpan is carried in a shoulder strap known as a gatra, as mandated by the Sikh Code of Conduct. "It helps sustain one's martial spirit and the determination to sacrifice oneself in order to defend truth, oppression and Sikh moral values," the Sikh Coalition's Web site says. The training would be added to existing police diversity and cultural sensitivity training.

Baggage Screening Upgrades at Ten U.S. Airports

Some $700 million in economic stimulus money intended to upgrade baggage screening systems at U.S. airports will go further than originally expected, Department of Homeland Security officials said. The money will upgrade systems at 10 additional airports. Earlier this year, the DHS announced funding for baggage screening at airports in 15 cities. The money will be used to speed up construction of in-line baggage screening systems. DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano said DHS was able to "stretch our resources" by managing the recovery money and by negotiating with airports. In addition to the $700 million intended for in-line checked baggage systems, $300 million is earmarked for advanced checkpoint technology, such as new X-ray machines, "whole body imaging" technology and bottled liquid scanners. More than $3 billion in economic stimulus money is earmarked for homeland security projects. The new airports expected to get stimulus money for in-line explosive detection systems are: Washington Dulles International, Lambert-St. Louis International, Yellowstone Regional Airport (Cody, WY), William P. Hobby Airport (Houston, TX, St. Petersburg/Clearwater International (St. Petersburg, FL), Gallatin Field Airport (Bozeman, MT), Little Rock National Airport, Tulsa International, Charlotte Douglas International, and Colorado Springs Airport.