Chicago's O'Hare International airport got its first full-body scanner on Tuesday, with US authorities expecting more such machines to be installed soon as part of stepped-up security measures in the wake of the botched Christmas Day attempt by Al Qaeda to blow up a plane.
The scanner, which sees through a person's clothing to reveal explosives or weapons, was installed at the airport's Terminal one. It resembles two blue telephone booths standing side-by-side.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Director at O'Hare Kathleen Petrowsky said she anticipates the body scans - currently optional for passengers - will become mandatory soon.
Passengers who refuse to go through these scanners on grounds that they are an invasion of privacy have the option to submit to a physical pat-down by a TSA officer using a metal detector.
City officials said they expect more body-imaging technology to be installed at O'Hare later this year.
So far, 21 airports across the country have been equipped with the units and nine more are slated to receive the scanners soon.
TSA plans to deploy a total of 450 body scanners across US airports this year, after the failed December 25 attempt last year to blow up a Detroit-bound flight by an al-Qaeda-trained Nigerian bomber who had hidden explosives in his underwear. PTI YAS KIM 03161255
- Indian Journalist.
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