Thursday, 4:30 PM
Huge delays expected at Logan with heightened security
Transportation Security Administration officer George Targontsidis displays a variety of confiscated products no longer allowed in carry-ons. Products include toothpastes, water bottles, and virtually any liquids in containers. (George Rizer/Globe Staff)
By Mac Daniel and Tracy Jan, Globe Staff
Tight security at Logan International Airport this morning in light of the raise security level was creating huge delays for passengers, with long lines for security causing many passengers to miss their flights, officials said.
Officials were warning passengers to arrive at Logan 2 1/2 to 3 hours before international flights and 2 hours before domestic flights. And while lines diminished around noon, passengers were facing 2 hour waits this afternoon.
Governor Mitt Romney said at a press conference this morning that
none of the flights targeted by the terrorist was bound for Logan. The National Guard has also been called in to patrol Logan, the first time troops have been called up since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Federal Security Director George Naccara told reporters today that despite the precautions and delays, flying out of Logan is safe. He said the federal Transportation Security Administration brought in extra workers who had to be quickly trained in the new liquid ban.
"I have to say it took us by surprise," he said of the terrorist plan. "Had we heard of the concept before - yes." He added that the long long lines in the terminals should be reduced in the afternoon.
Passenger carry-on bags were being tightly screened, with no liquids, shampoos or gels allowed. The restriction comes after British authorities this morning foiled an alleged plot to blow up commercial airliners from the United Kingdom while in mid-flight.
Lines snaked throughout terminals, with one line in Terminal C stretching down a walkway connected to Terminal B, a length of nearly a quarter-mile.
With the heightened security level, now at high or orange for all domestic and international flights and severe, or red, for all commercial flights flying from the United Kingdom to the U.S., passengers were being told to pour out or throw away any liquid or gel, including shampoo, creams, suntan lotion, toothpaste, hair gel and water. Those items can be carried in checked baggage, which would be screened for explosives at Logan.
Phil Orlandella, spokesman for the Massachusetts Port Authority, said there are exceptions to the new rules that allow baby formula or breast milk or juice if an infant or small child is traveling. Prescription medicines, insulin, essential non-prescription medications were also being allowed.
As a result, many passengers were having to repack into their check-in luggage.
MBTA officials said there was no specific or general threat to transit and no request from federal officials to increase security.
MBTA General Manager Daniel A. Grabauskas said the T has asked all personnel to be “additionally vigilant” while visual inspections of trains and buses have been increased. Security announcements in stations have also increased in frequency.
In addition, MBTA Transit Police were conducting checks on all Silver Line buses headed to Logan this morning , with police walking up and down the bus aisles with two K-9 teams looking for anything suspicious, officials said.
"We just thought it made sense to increase our activity on and around the Silver Line," Grabauskas said.
Governor Mitt Romney has scheduled a 10 a.m. State House press conference to discuss the situation.
Scott Montgomery, of Washington, D.C., willingly threw out all of his toiletries to speed his wait through security, which took 2 hours and 10 minutes. "It's worth taking a little extra time, but they are not very well prepared for any mishaps,” he said. “And when something happens, it's just total chaos."
Caroline Granda of Salisbury was travelling with her 1-year-old son and husband this morning, having left their home at 4:30 a.m. for a 7 a.m. flight. They spent nearly two hours wading through security. "It's just kind of compounds the whole fear of flying and terrorists," she said. "It makes me nervous, but I'm not going to hold off my life."
Joe Frascotti, 19, junior civil engineering major at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, was flying to Minneapolis and missed his flight after waiting in the security line for an hour and a half. He was re-booked on a 1 p.m. flight, but because he now has two stops -- in Washington, D.C. and Atlanta - he said won't arrive until 11 p.m.
He was biding his time watching the news on television. "I didn't know it was this serious until I sat down and watched this," he said.
"I'm a little nervous, but not too much. I'm just annoyed that I'm going to get to Minneapolis 10 hours later than I was supposed to"
Officials with the federal Transportation Security Administration were telling passengers that their flights would be held. But when passengers arrived at their gates after going through security, their flights had left.
The stringent rules were causing morning delays throughout the airport and were expected to escalate throughout the day. “We’re telling people to get there early,” Orlandella said. “If you were planning to come at 9, come at 8.”
Only one flight had been cancelled at Logan this morning – an inbound American Airlines flight from London. More cancellations and huge delays were expected, with lines going through security the longest at Logan in six years, Orlandella said.
