Citing continuing terrorist threats to passenger aircraft, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly has ordered a package of stepped-up security measures to be implemented for all commercial flights to the United States.
The measures, which the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said would be “both seen and unseen,” will include enhanced screening of passengers and electronic devices and increased security standards for airports and aircraft, and will be applied to about 2,100 flights carrying 325,000 passengers to the United States daily from 280 airports in 105 countries.
“Terrorists want to bring down aircraft to instill fear, disrupt our economies and undermine our way of life,” Kelly said on Wednesday. “And it works — which is why they still see aviation as a crown jewel target.”
He said the U.S…
