Some U.S. airports have begun lifting passengers’ requirements to take off their shoes during safety checks run by the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA).
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the “big news” of the decision came from the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to run the TSA.
Airports that have removed shoe requirements include international airports in Baltimore, Fort Lauderdale and Portland, according to CBS News, BBC media partner.
Rules requiring airline passengers to take off their shoes during a safe screening have come into effect since 2006 – the British hid the bomb in one of his shoes in a shoe flying to Miami.
TSA has not officially announced the change, but said in a press release on Monday that it is “exploring new and innovative ways to enhance the passenger experience and our strong safety posture.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will hold a press conference later on Tuesday, and she is expected to discuss policy changes.
Other airports that implement security protocols include Cincinnati/North Kentucky International Airport, Philadelphia International Airport and Piedmont Triad International Airport in North Carolina.
It is also reported that no security measures are implemented at other U.S. airports, including Los Angeles International Airport and LaGuardia Airport in New York City.
Previously, children and travelers with TSA Precheck didn’t have to take off their footwear. To qualify for TSA Precheck, there is an application process that includes submitting fingerprints.
Shoe removal has been part of the TSA safety screening process since the agency implemented the requirement in 2006.
The rule was adopted after a British man named Richard Reid, known as a “shoe bomber,” was discovered during a flight from Paris to Miami in December 2001.
Reed failed to detonate the explosives and the plane landed safely in Boston after he was subdued by a passenger.
After the terrorist attack in the United States on September 11, 2001, the footwear removal policy also carried out a terrorist attack in the United States after more than a dozen al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial aircraft equipped with boxers and knives.
Health & Wellness Contributor
A wellness enthusiast and certified nutrition advisor, Meera covers everything from healthy living tips to medical breakthroughs. Her articles aim to inform and inspire readers to live better every day.
