End of 20-Year-Old Requirement at US Airports
Passengers at US airports will no longer need to remove their shoes for security checks, according to a new policy announced on Tuesday, twenty years after the requirement was introduced.
Policy Change by Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
The announcement was made by Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, during a press briefing at Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport.
“Over the past 20 years, our security technology has undergone significant changes and evolution. The TSA itself has transformed. Security is now approached from multiple governmental levels,” Noem stated.
Historical Context: Richard Reid Incident
On December 22, 2001, British national Richard Reid attempted to detonate explosives concealed in his athletic shoes on a flight from Paris to Miami aboard an American Airlines plane. Following this incident, security measures during boarding became more stringent.
Since 2006, passengers at US airports have been required to remove their shoes for security checks and place them through scanners.
Reid pleaded guilty to terrorism charges and related offenses, and is serving a life sentence in a maximum-security prison in Colorado.
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: Who announced the policy change? A: Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem
- Q: Why was the shoe removal requirement implemented in 2006? A: It was a response to the Richard Reid incident, where explosives were concealed in athletic shoes on a flight from Paris to Miami.
- Q: What has changed since 2001 that led to this policy update? A: Significant advancements and evolution in security technology, as well as changes within the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
- Q: What is the status of Richard Reid? A: He pleaded guilty to terrorism charges and related offenses, and is serving a life sentence in a maximum-security prison in Colorado.
