Behind the scenes: the truth about how scanners and airport security work

Modern airport security technology raises many questions from travelers about what goes on behind the scenes. With the increasing ability for passengers to bring larger, bulkier items with them, there is curiosity about the accuracy of security scanners and the way airport security operates.

It's worth considering how effective the scanners are and whether security personnel can truly accurately determine the contents of luggage, as well as what possible consequences this could have for passengers.

The Telegraph tried to find out what exactly happens at the airport when your luggage is checked.

The operation of security scanners on airport conveyor belts always irritates passengers. And even though you've prepared the contents of your bag with great care, certainly, it will still end up in a pile that needs to be inspected manually. But why is all this necessary? How accurate are the scanning machines? And what does the airport employee see on the screen?

Scan your luggage

Your items in suitcases are painted in bright colors. How does it work?

Your bags are passed through a scanning machine on a conveyor belt, where a low level of ionizing radiation is applied, passing through the baggage and being registered by a detector at the other end. The contents of the bag are displayed on a computer screen, which is closely monitored by a trained staff member who can analyze the images. Typically, organic materials show up in orange, while glass or metal shows up in blue or green, with the denser the material, the darker its shade.

Airport staff are trained to respond to any changes in your behavior and to examine various items. During the screening process, you are required to remove all liquids (most airports still follow the rule of less than 100 ml) and electronics from your carry-on baggage and place it all in a plastic tray, along with your carry-on baggage and outerwear. Sometimes you may even be asked to take off your shoes.

During baggage screening, you pass through a body scanner. This metal arch emits a signal when it detects objects made of metal. Note that some airports have more sophisticated devices that use a threat detection function when scanning a person.

After this check, you usually receive your luggage at the other end of the conveyor belt.

Additional passenger screening

If the alarm is triggered, security personnel will usually begin a pat-down to make sure you don't have any unresolved items, and may also swab your hands to check for explosives or drugs.

If a suspicious or unrecognizable object is detected on the computer screen, your bag may be sent for additional inspection, where an officer will manually inspect its contents before you can continue on your way.

X-ray scanners: when they appeared and how they work

In the 1970s, X-ray scanners appeared after a series of airplane hijackings, and after September 11, their use became more intensive due to the increase in the number of prohibited items. X-ray scanners work in the same way: they emit low levels of ionizing radiation that passes through the luggage and is registered by a detector.

Modern body scanners use a millimeter wave system and usually show a standard body shape, highlighting potential areas in red.

As one of the security officers told the publication, experienced experts can identify objects in a pocket: distinguish a handkerchief from a mask.

Curiosities during baggage scanning

Some items can be surprising when they appear on the scanner screen, even though they are allowed for transportation. For example, sex toys allowed in the cabin may be surprising in countries where they are prohibited by law. In one case reported by airport staff, a young woman attracted attention by trying to hide a tube of intimate lubricant in her carry-on bag, and in another, a man asked for extreme caution with his luggage because he was carrying an urn with ashes.

Most travelers pack intimate items in their checked baggage, but sometimes security forces encounter smugglers trying to bring in exotic animals.

Problems with passengers

When it comes to unruly passengers, airline staff can use a variety of methods, such as taekwondo and handcuffs, but in most cases, security personnel are the first to meet passengers.

Problems often arise with passengers who have drunk a lot of alcohol or those who have lost their documents. However, irritation from fatigue is also a possibility, especially on long flights and when traveling with children.

We cannot rule out problems with the language barrier, which often causes misunderstandings, for example, when passengers try to smuggle prohibited items due to a misunderstanding of security instructions.

The nuances of airport employees' work

Sometimes the emotional stress of security personnel can reach a critical level, given the long working hours. One employee recalls a case where a passenger fainted after being screened and later died before his flight.

Problems with security personnel, such as low salaries and stressful working conditions, were discussed in the 2019 report, causing a retention crisis. This could lead to potential problems given the importance and responsibility of the position.

Although the security infrastructure is designed to detect and prevent crime, its exact performance is difficult to assess, but security breaches are not uncommon. However, many incidents may go unnoticed and not be publicly recognized due to the nature of the job.

TravelWise previously wrote about how to speed up security at the airport.