Passengers at Denver International Airport may notice increased government safety measures, both in security lines and during their flights.
In response to the suspected terrorism incident Friday on Northwest Flight 253 into Detroit, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced additional screening measures for all domestic and international flights.
In a statement Saturday, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said the additional measures were designed to be flexible so passengers will not encounter the same screenings at multiple locations.
Matt and Lauren Ricca noticed the changes as they flew from New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport to DIA early Saturday.
“I did notice that they were searching some people at the gate,” Matt Ricca said about boarding in Newark.
The two said the security measures had no other effect on their flight.
The Transportation Security Administration declined to discuss the specifics of the new regulations but said on background that they will include stricter security measures for U.S.-bound flights.
Passengers can expect pat downs, gate screenings and limited access to their carry-on luggage and personal items — including pillows.
Passengers getting off flights from overseas reported being told that they couldn’t get out of their seats for the last hour of their flight. Air Canada also said that during the last hour of a flight, passengers won’t be allowed access to carry-on baggage or to have any items on their laps.
Flight attendants on at least one domestic flight informed passengers of similar rules. Passengers on a flight Saturday morning from New York to Tampa, Fla., were told they had to remain in their seats and couldn’t have items in their laps, including laptops and pillows.
David King flew into DIA from Cancun, Mexico, on Saturday. He said security screenings at the gate in Cancun delayed the flight by 30 minutes.
“Everything that was done before was done all over at the gate,” King said.
Personal items and carry-ons were searched, and passengers removed their shoes and socks again, King said.
Other security measures that may be used are explosives-detection dogs, gate screenings and unseen methods such as officials evaluating the behavior of passengers, the TSA stated.
Security lines at DIA ran smoothly Saturday afternoon on a day with relatively light passenger traffic. Monday is expected to bring heavy crowds back to DIA as people return after the holiday, spokeswoman Erica Gingerich said in an earlier interview.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Jordan Steffen: 303-954-1638 or jsteffen@denverpost.com
