Homeland Security head: Laptop ban expansion, screenings eyed

The U.S. “might” ban laptops from the cabins of all international flights into and out of the country as well as roll out more elaborate security screening of carryon baggage, the head of Homeland Security said.

“Well, there’s a real threat — numerous threats — against aviation,” John Kelly, secretary of Homeland Security, said on “Fox News Sunday.” “That’s really 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 mostly U.S. folks. It’s real.”

In March, the Trump administration banned laptops in the cabin on U.S.-bound flights originating from 10 airports in countries including Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Jordan.

The Herald reported earlier this month that a proposed expansion of the ban could create chaos at airports and potentially cause more harm than good, introducing a fire hazard in the cargo hold with so many devices powered by lithium batteries.

Meanwhile, Kelly also blamed airlines’ excessive baggage fees for a possible TSA plan that would require passengers to place food, electronics and paper in separate bins during pre-flight security screenings.

“People trying to avoid the $25 or $50 or whatever it is to check a bag are now stuffing your carry-on bags to the point of ... well, they can’t get any more in there. So, the more you stuff in there, the less the TSA professionals that are looking at what’s in those bags through the monitors. They can’t tell what’s in the bags anymore.”