Concerns over al-Qaeda operatives developing bombs that can be covertly inserted onto planes. US officials said that Syria and Yemen al-Qaeda splinter groups may begin their operations, and new security measures for Middle East direct flights will be required.
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The security measures would be implemented in the next few days, typically towards direct flights from Europe, Africa and countries from the Middle East. No specification of airports have been made as of yet. Additional inspections of passenger shoes, property and physical health will be part of the security process.
The United Kingdom had also followed suit, with the Department for Transport implementing similar security processes. However, the DoT promised that the additional measures will not cause significant disruption to passengers, and the UK threat level is not at a high level.
US DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson said that the added security is something that the US Homeland Security periodically performs and that it is not an overreaction to a threat. He said that a constant terrorist threat remains as Homeland Security continues to evaluate the world situation.
The UK and the US plan to install additional bomb-detection machines to prevent possible US or Europe planes with concealed bombs.
One incident in 2009 involved a militant with a bomb hidden in his underwear aboard a Detroit airliner.
