tsa Archives - WPTF-AM

Travelers may no longer be required to remove shoes before boarding a plane

For the first time in almost 20 years, travelers may no longer have to take off their shoes during security screenings at certain U.S. airports. The Transportation Security Administration is looking to abandon the requirement, according to media reports. If implemented, it would put an end to a security screening mandate put in place almost 20 years ago, several years after “shoe bomber” Richard Reid’s attempt to take down a flight from Paris to Miami in late 2001. Travel newsletter Gate Access was first to report that the security screening change is coming, with ABC News citing an internal memo sent to TSA officers last week that states the new policy lets travelers keep their shoes on during screenings at many U.S. airports beginning on Sunday.… Continue Reading

New x-ray tech could make airport security faster—and smarter

RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – A Duke University spinout called Quadridox is developing cutting-edge X-ray technology that could revolutionize airport security by identifying what objects are made of—potentially allowing travelers to keep their liquids and speed through checkpoints. The startup, led by former Duke professor Joel Greenberg, is currently focused on improving TSA efficiency with smarter screening of checked baggage, but the tech also has promising applications in medical imaging, including better cancer detection.… Continue Reading

Argo the dog, a TSA calendar star, protects air travelers by sniffing out explosives

LINTHICUM, Md. (AP) — A 9-year-old black Labrador retriever named Argo is gearing up for a busy holiday travel season. Argo is trained to detect potential explosives at Baltimore-Washington International Airport and is one of 12 dogs featured in a 2025 TSA canine calendar. During a recent demonstration of his skills, Argo was presented with a decoy person wearing a backpack containing something that smelled like potential explosives. He immediately reacted to the scent by dropping his nose to the ground, wagging his tail faster and pulling his handler toward the target. Explosive detection dogs are trained at the National TSA Canine Training Center in San Antonio, where Argo was assigned to Lilly.… Continue Reading

‘Busiest Thanksgiving ever’: How the TSA plans to handle record air travel

DALLAS (AP) — The Thanksgiving travel rush is expected to be bigger than ever this year. AAA predicts that nearly 80 million people in the U.S. will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday — most of them by car. Thanksgiving Day falling so late this year has altered traditional travel patterns. At airports, the Transportation Security Administration says it could screen a record number of U.S. air travelers on Sunday. Meanwhile, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration says a shortage of air traffic controllers could cause flight delays. Service workers at Charlotte Douglas International Airport went on strike. Transportation analytics company INRIX says roads could be congested on Monday with both commuters and returning holiday travelers.… Continue Reading