In an interview on "Fox News Sunday," [U.S. Homeland Security Secretary John] Kelly said the United States planned to "raise the bar" on airline security, including tightening screening of carry-on items.
"That's the thing that they are obsessed with, the terrorists, the idea of knocking down an airplane in flight, particularly if it's a U.S. carrier, particularly if it's full of U.S. people."
In March, the government imposed restrictions on large electronic devices in aircraft cabins on flights from 10 airports, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Turkey.
Kelly said the move would be part of a broader airline security effort to combat what he called "a real sophisticated threat." He said no decision had been made as to the timing of any ban.
"We are still following the intelligence," he said, "and are in the process of defining this, but we're going to raise the bar generally speaking for aviation much higher than it is now."
Airlines are concerned that a broad ban on laptops may erode customer demand. But none wants an incident aboard one of its airplanes.
Fox News has a transcript of the interview (archived copy).
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President Trump Revealed Classified Information to Russia; and Tweets it to the World [Updated]
"Sources" Fear Terrorists will get Past Airport Security with Laptop Bombs
US Bans Tablets and Laptops on Flights From Eight Muslim-Majority Countries
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 30 2017, @04:31PM (2 children)
I would rather risk more terrorist attacks than allow the government to continue violating the Constitution.
Your view is anecdotal and statistically insignificant. The vast majority of people who vote (over 98%) disagree.
But I don't even accept the argument that all this security theater actually improved our safety by any significant amount.
Again you have it wrong. They aren't trying to improve 'safety'. They are selling an illusion, with high drama. Thanks to a submissive public, the campaign is a golden goose. It is business, plain and simple. And business is very good and expanding. That you cannot deny.
(Score: 2) by Anal Pumpernickel on Tuesday May 30 2017, @11:39PM (1 child)
If that is true, then people should stop with the 'land of the free and home of the brave' nonsense and just admit that they are reprehensible authoritarians.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 31 2017, @02:56AM
people should stop with the 'land of the free and home of the brave' nonsense
Why? It sells tickets... That's what flag waving is all about. If you don't keep the illusion alive, people will start thinking, *what's the point?*.