US bans uncharged cell phones, laptops from some flights

The Transport Security Administration says that security has been stepped up on certain flights into the US. This includes asking passengers to power up their devices.

by Chris Matyszczyk

@ChrisMatyszczyk
July 6, 2014 2:05 PM PDT

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iPhones and Galaxys are reportedly already being heavily scrutinized. PhoneDog/YouTube screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET

If you're flying into the US from certain countries, you may discover that getting through security will become even more time-consuming and stressful.

The US Transport Security Administration revealed on Sunday that enhanced security procedures on flights coming to the US now include not allowing uncharged cell phones and other devices onto planes.

In a statement earlier this week, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said that the new measures were the result of a re-evaluation of measures "to promote aviation security."

There is no official list of which airports are affected. However, the BBC is reporting that London's Heathrow is one of them.

Reports suggest that the enhanced measures are in response to information that terrorists in Syria and Yemen have developed bombs that might evade the previous screening processes.

What's clear is that personal devices are being targeted. The TSA statement said: "During the security examination, officers may also ask that owners power up some devices, including cell phones. Powerless devices will not be permitted on board the aircraft. The traveler may also undergo additional screening."

Britain's Channel 4 reports that iPhones and Samsung Galaxys have already been singled out for additional scrutiny at certain airports in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Though the TSA said that it is constantly adjusting its procedures, there's reason to believe that security checks might become even more stringent.

The Guardian quotes Britain's deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg as saying: "I don't want people to think that this is just a sort of a blip for a week. This is part of an evolving and constant review about whether the checks keep up with the nature of the threats we face."

SactoGuy018 10 hours ago

It may sound insane, but anyone who's seen the battery pack for the Samsung Galaxy S III, S4 or S5 knows it's a fairly big unit. A fake battery pack of that size filled with the chemicals used in detonation cord or a plastique explosive like Semtex or C4 has the explosive power than a stick of dynamite, with enough explosive power that when detonated during flight at cruising altitude from a window seat could blow a hole in the fuselage with potentially catastrophic results.

Given the known history of two attempts to detonate a bomb aboard a plane flying to the USA since the 9/11/2001 terrorist attacks, this type of precaution is probably going to be necessary from now on.

Jonathan 10 hours ago

@SactoGuy018 "detonation cord or a plastique explosive like Semtex or C4"

All of which can be picked up by most modern scanning systems and / or bomb sniffing dogs. There is something else going on here.

MargonTheGodless 8 hours ago

@Jonathan @SactoGuy018 I almost never see bomb sniffing dogs in the pre-boarding screening. They are usually at immigration checking for contraband. as for "modern scanners" they are basically just Xray machines. The battery itself is generally just barely even visible. Throw a dummy circuit board next to a formed piece of C4, and I could totally see a dummy phone making it through security (hell, knives "accidentally" make it through security from time to time.)

I'm not exactly sure what the "something else" would even be? A high powered xenon laser that "looks" like a cellphone ala james bond? your comment makes no sense.

lloyd1981 5 hours ago

@MargonTheGodless @Jonathan @SactoGuy018

If you ever see someone use a cotton pad to wipe the surface of a bag or clothing, that pad is then scanned using a special process I will not go into now but it can detect targeted residue as small as a billionth of an inch. Within seconds. Even the smallest amount of residue from medical nitroglycerin is detected. Have your Rx bottle/vial ready.

The TSA dogs and local police (LEOs) K-9 units can detect explosives in an entire cargo hold in minutes where physical search and testing would take hours.

Modern scanning systems CANNOT pick up explosives. They pick up suspicious objects and if the screening device returns an image that appears to be "off" as far as what it looks like v. issues like density, the carry on or person is physically screened a second time.

The dogs at CBP processing stations are not seeking contraband and they are not at the Immigration portion; they are in Customs, where the baggage is. They are trained to find fruit, vegetables and organic materials, not explosives. The people have alrady been subjected to screening BEFORE their flight -- why would their arrived bag need to be checked for explosives or weapons?

Too many people fail to do their homework about these issues, make false accusations or unfounded guesses based on emotion, or are just plain pissed off because they have to take their shoes off. But there is not one scanning device yet approved that can scan shoes being worn for weapons or the IMAGE of a suspicious item that could be explosives.

MargonTheGodless 3 hours ago

@lloyd1981 @MargonTheGodless @Jonathan @SactoGuy018

If you ever see someone use a cotton pad to wipe the surface of a bag or clothing... I haven't seen that since 2001... I wonder what happened to all of those machines?

The TSA dogs and local police (LEOs) K-9 units can detect explosives in an entire cargo hold in minutes where physical search and testing would take hours.

Yeah, but the point is they don't have them in every airport, or at least they don't have them working when I fly (international or otherwise). I agree, that would work great.

contraband = fruits, veggies, (drugs) anything that is illegal to bring into the US.

also Immigration and customs are basically synonymous, but I'll give you that the dogs are usually after the actual passport check. same area though. When I landed in texas they had a dog working the passport line.

The people have already been subjected to screening BEFORE their flight-- (that was basically my point, I have never seen a bomb sniffing dog in the pre-boarding line, ever. I think I saw the cotton pads come out once or twice during a yellow alert or something.

Too many people fail to do their homework about these issues, make false accusations or unfounded guesses based on emotion, or are just plain pissed off because they have to take their shoes off...

what it really boils down to is whether or not it's worth it. I personally don't think it is. you are being just as emotional as the guy you are railing against, except instead of being angry, you are afraid of the terrorist boogeyman. Yes, because, and for no reason other than George W. Bush is a doorknob, the entire world hates us a lot more now than it used to. Our enemies are literally multiplying exponentially in opposition to American imperialism. That is not a good enough reason to be strip-searched every time I go on a trip. Sorry. REPEAL THE PATRIOT ACT!

Madmaxde 2 hours ago

@lloyd1981 You must be referring to 1981 technology. Dogs are very good at detecting explosives. They aren't infallible, but still very good. The bad guys continuously work to develop powerful explosive formulae that can't be detected by dogs, men or machines. Initially, dogs could only detect TNT based explosives. As the threat evolved, so has their training. Now, they are very proficient at detecting plastics, RDX, etc. The problem is, when a new explosive is developed, it takes time to train a dog to detect it. Naturally, not all dogs can be trained at the same time, so there will be gaps. One problem with dogs is their endurance. A dog can only "work" 20-30 minutes at a time, before they become "bored." Obviously, weather will affect their endurance too, since they have a body temp of about 108. Another problem is residual odors (like medical nitro) contaminate the scent cone and have to be adjudicated.

Arrived bags are checked because some people are merely transiting a destination. Baggage areas usually have a combination of dogs. Some are trained to detect drugs and contraband and others are trained to detect explosives. Dogs are not trained to detect both drugs and explosives. The scent, as well as the animal's response to it, are far too different.