Older story, but recent discussion and quoting on the potential of small electronics to be used as explosive devices on airplanes.
Homeland Security chief: Airplane terror threat 'keeps me up at night'
By Miranda Green, CNN
Updated 10:36 PM ET, Fri April 28, 2017
Kelly: Will expand electronics ban if neededWashington (CNN)Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said Friday that the heightened threat of terrorists taking down a commercial airline is one of his greatest national concerns.
"A thing that keeps me up at night is the intent of terrorists to knock an airplane down in flight," Kelly told CNN's Jake Tapper on "The Lead" Friday night.
While Kelly acknowledged DHS is doing the "best we can" to guard against threats, the department hears frequent chatter through intelligence networks -- including some that is "real" and "specific" -- which causes it to proceed with an "abundance of caution."
That caution includes a recent ban on large electronics aboard flights traveling to the US from 10 airports in eight countries in the Middle East and Africa. Those devices must now be carried in the cargo hold through checked baggage, according to DHS. The sudden moves, attributed to concerns about potential terrorist attacks, have created additional logistical headaches for airline staff and passengers.
Kelly added that he's been in talks with at least one of the 10 airports, which suggested, if the DHS were willing, it would let passengers bring large electronics on the plane with them if they agreed to have them opened up and checked for explosive residue before boarding.
He added that he is considering that proposal.
Also, Kelly called out some "irresponsible" reporting by various news outlets that suggested the ban on electronics from the 10 airports was linked to racial profiling or was targeted to benefit US airlines.
All 10 banned airports are in majority Muslim countries, but Kelly said the religion of the countries was never one of the factors he looked into.Intelligence reports have indicated that al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula was perfecting techniques for hiding explosives in batteries and battery compartments. The "threat is real" for airline passengers, Kelly said, adding: "I guess they'd be forced to read a book or a magazine or talk to their kids. I'd rather them have that inconvenience than be a flaming ball of fire at 10,000 feet."
Kelly added that if intelligence showed any other threats he would "have no hesitation" of expanding the limitation on airplanes bound to the US from other countries in addition to the ones already subject to the large electronics ban.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/28/politics/john-kelly-airplane-threats-cnntv/
I don't worry so much about the threats I read about in the Media. I worry more about what I don't read about in the media. Not that I worry much at all about such things.
Be safe.
I agree with the idea that people should not be able to use electronics while the plane is in the air. Give people ear plugs if they want to rest to block out the idiots on the plane, and provide headsets so they can watch tv. NO CELLPHONES, NO LAPTOPS. People do not need to communicate with anyone while they are flying. They just don't. They may want to, but they do not need to.
Okay what about overseas travel and long flights more than 5 hours long? Let them have locked carry-on bags to put in the overhead compartment that they put their cell phones, laptops in, and have limited electronic time when they can use their devices, then put em back in the bags, into the overhead compartments, while the stewardesses watch them do that. The reason for the exception on these flights is time zone changes, if someone is flying overseas, it is 5 hours to London for example, but it is later in time there so someone may have a legitamite reason to have to contact somebody in that amount of time, a boss, a family member etc.
If people can read, sleep or watch tv that should be sufficient for most people on shorter domestic flights.
[Edited on 5/2/2017 by gina]
Some people work on their computers during flights though.
So carry-on bag x-ray isn't able to detect an explosive masked as a consumer electronic device? Or is it that the US doesn't fully trust the honesty and thoroughness of security screening in that part of the world?
I remember for a while there were stories about people having to power on their device to show TSA that it was a working item rather than something nefarious. I don't see people doing that when I fly and haven't heard about that for a couple years now.
