Flights to US hit by tighter security
Monday 28th December 2009, 10:28AM GMT.
Tens of thousands of holiday-makers flying to America for the New Year are being forced to endure delays of up to three hours because of strict new security rules brought in after the bid to blow up a plane.
Around 25,000 passengers across Britain experienced delays yesterday in the wake of the attempted terrorist attack in Detroit on Christmas Day.
There were long delays in departure areas at British airports yesterday as airlines were forced to impose a second set of checks at flight gates. However, check-in and security queues were unaffected.
At Manchester, which serves many passengers from the Midlands, people travelling to Atlanta, Jersey and New York were braced for more delays today.
Yesterday, airlines scrambled extra staff to cope with demands from US authorities. Passengers have been warned the rules will remain in place “indefinitely”.
Hand baggage restrictions were put in place and security staff were ordered to conduct full body searches of everyone at departure gates.
Meanwhile, there were more anxious scenes at Detroit Airport after a second Nigerian man was arrested on the same route where former London student Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab allegedly tried to ignite a device.
A security official at Detroit later confirmed the second man posed no security risk and had locked himself in a toilet after falling ill.
For the last hour of flights into America yesterday, passengers were told to remain in their seats and banned from having books, newspapers or even blankets.
Passengers travelling into Britain from the US experienced similar delays but not at Birmingham Airport as there were no flights to or from the US today. Airlines are expected to impose their own security measures.
By Elizabeth Joyce
Business Awards
Book a Business Awards table
Join our celebrations of the region's best in business on Thursday March 22 - book your table now
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases
OUR NEW APP
Get the new E&S app
Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
expressandstar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
Doesn’t anybody else find all of this very strange?? Bliar has people signing petitions to have him face criminal charges in the Hague, i undersand Bush is having the same problem.
The bomb turns out to be stuff made from firing caps, he wasn’t picked up at Amsterdam airport by security yet the dutch security is very strict, he goes into the toilet on the plane for 20 minutes then tries to set off what is basically a firework. This stinks of a set up, i rather suspect that whatever he used was left for him in the toilets, surely if he wanted to blow up a plane he would have used proper explosives.
Seems to me the so called homeland security want more powers and money. Why did American security give this person a visa when this mans own father had reported his son to the USA embassy in Nigeria?? the father is reported to have told the embassy his son had also been in the Yemen, yet USA homeland security allegedly never picked this up when issueing him with a visa??
Why would homeland seurity want more powers if they can’t even pick up on a report from their own embassy in Nigeria. It stinks to high heaven.
Now you have to give more details of a personal nature to the control freaks. Wise up the terrorists are your own governments.
Report abuse
I bet you are one of those who think the moon landing was a set up
Report abuse
lol, roy has always been one of those. I reckon he’s a plant from league of penguins designed to make readers think that the large chunks of human race are beyond help. we will then give up on the world allowing the penguins to take over. its got to be true…
Report abuse
to be fair to roy jenkins he as got a point it is all very strange specially is father contacting usa 1st yet still giving him a visa and the amsterdam airport is extremly strict one of my friends nearly never got in usa last year cause of a caution from when he was 14 yet americans are allowing dodgy africans with warped minds in freely this stinks!
Report abuse
Why on earth does anyone contemplate flying anywhere these days?
What used to be a pleasurable experience is now one of interminable delays and checks all in the name of “security”.
Where’s the dignity for pasengers?
You are all treated like cattle and suspects.
Every single one of you.
Name any other form of transport where you are expected to put up with delays of 4-5 hours before you even get aboard the mode of transport.
Let america stew in its own juices and holiday in the UK !!
Report abuse
The sad fact is that one day soon these terrorists will be successful. And what of this afghanistan war against terrorism eh??? Thought we were winning??? It’s a joke really to think if we win in this country all terrorism will be beaten????
Just more government political, money motivated nonsense.
Report abuse
I have sat and thought long and hard about this and i have got a fool proof solution all air craft leaving or entering America .passengers must fly naked .
Report abuse
Halesowenbaggie,
I have sent two replies to comicalali and his mate the pequin but neither was printed??
Have you seen he article today where UK homeland security is stating every one must now use the new scanners which show right through to your skin, put some patsy on a plane give him a damp squib hey presto we get what we want without the public being able to squeal about human rights.
Personally i have no objection to this new scanning device if it makes people feel safe.
Report abuse