Most at McCarran wait less than 10-minutes

Holiday travelers went about their business Monday at McCarran International Airport with little concern or awareness of heightened security measures in light of Christmas Day’s airline incident in Detroit.

Passengers moved quickly through lines at C- and D-gate security checkpoints, most of them enduring less than a 10-minute wait.

The Transporation Security Administration has worked with airline and law enforcement authorities to step up security following the incident in which a Northwest Airlines passenger tried to set off an explosive device and was subdued by other passengers and crew members.

TSA officials would not comment on specific security measures nor give further details of the incident. Spokeswoman Suzanne Trevino directed all media inquiries to TSA’s Web site.

Passengers flying into the United States from abroad can expect to see additional security measures at international airports such as increased gate screening, pat-downs and bag searches.

During the flight, passengers may be asked to stow personal items, turn off electronic equipment and remain seated during certain times. They may also have limited access to overhead storage bins.

Dawn Locke, a first-time visitor from the United Kingdom, heard about the incident on the news during her week-long stay in Las Vegas and felt airport security was handling it well.

“It’s crazy. I can’t understand why would you hurt people,” she said. “I can’t see how he got on the plane. He was on a register thing, I believe.”

A 23-year-old Nigerian man who claimed to have ties to al-Qaida was arrested and charged with attempting to destroy the Northwest airliner on its flight from Amsterdam to Detroit.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano conceded that the airport security system failed to detect the threat.

The U.S. Travel Association issued a statement Monday calling for whole-body imaging and increased use of canine security.

“We must find new screening techniques that strengthen security, protect privacy and reduce wait times and other hassles for travelers,” association president Roger Dow said in the statement.

“Whole-body imaging may or may not be a panacea for security and travelers, but one thing that is clear is that this technology has not received the necessary analysis to determine if it can significantly strengthen security and improve travel facilitation,” he said. “Nearly all of the WBI focus to date has been on privacy. It is past time for a more detailed analysis.”

Gary Wright of Oklahoma City, Okla., arrived in Las Vegas Monday on American Airlines and was more concerned about his missing luggage than heightened security. He was told the luggage would be coming in on the next flight from Dallas.

“The TV said to expect more delays, but we didn’t see it,” Wright said as he and his wife kept close watch on the baggage carousel. “We couldn’t tell anything different. It does concern me that he got through security and there’s some way they can blow up an airplane that we didn’t know about.”

Wright said he’s heard different reports on exactly what the Northwest passenger was doing, if he had a powder substance or fireworks.

McCarran spokesman Chris Jones said the airport is operating as normal. “Everything seems to be focused on international flights,” he said.

TSA is encouraging Americans to continue with their holiday travel plans, but remain observant and aware of their surroundings and report suspicious activity to security officials.

One Las Vegas visitor from Duluth, Minn., said he didn’t know about the Detroit incident because he was too busy gambling and then too tired to watch the news.

Contact reporter Hubble Smith at hsmith@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0491.