TSA Temporarily Prohibits Carry-On Liquids

The Transportation Security Administration today said it is imposing stricter security measures for air travelers, including bolstered checkpoint screening and a policy that forbids "liquids or gels," including beverages, from being carried on board. The measures—which follow the foiling of a plot involving liquid explosives directed at commercial aviation in the United Kingdom—are considered temporary and "will be evaluated and updated when circumstances warrant." For travelers from the United Kingdom, TSA is forbidding any carry-on baggage.

The Department of Homeland Security raised the threat assessment to "Severe, or Red" for flights from the United Kingdom, and "High, or Orange" for all other domestic and international flights. As such, TSA "will be implementing a series of security measures—some visible and some not visible—to ensure the security of the traveling public and the nation's transportation system."

Among the most visible to travelers will be a new carry-on policy that states: "No liquids or gels of any kind will be permitted in carry-on baggage. Items must be in checked baggage. This includes all beverages, shampoo, suntan lotion, creams, toothpaste, hair gel and other items of similar consistency." Among exceptions are baby formula, breast milk and juice if a small child is accompanying a passenger. Furthermore, insulin or other medication will be allowed. However, passengers must present all exempted items for inspection at security checkpoints.

In addition to restricting all carry-on baggage on flights from the United Kingdom, TSA also said that passengers on those routes "will be subject to a more extensive screening process." Less visible to passengers, DHS said, will be expanded use of federal air marshals on planes, particularly transatlantic flights.

The new DHS policy continues; "DHS has also mandated that all flights from the U.K. transmit passenger manifest information for intensive screening prior to departure from the gate. In addition, passengers on these flights and all other international flights will be subject to heightened inspection upon arrival in the U.S."

Due to the new measures, several carriers suggested travelers arrive up to three hours earlier for flights, while warning them of the new carry-on policy. In a statement, Delta Air Lines said, "TSA screening lines will be longer than usual and additional screening is being conducted at the gate."
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff early this morning said, "Over the last few hours, British authorities have arrested a significant number of extremists engaged in a substantial plot to destroy multiple passenger aircraft flying from the United Kingdom to the United States. Currently, there is no indication, however, of plotting within the United States. We believe that these arrests have significantly disrupted the threat, but we cannot be sure that the threat has been entirely eliminated or the plot completely thwarted."