What do airport baggage scanners see? (2024)

FAQs

What do airport baggage scanners see? ›

The airport scanners can also detect liquids, metals, and rugs; even if you carry gold in the scanner, it will be seen. The scanners are designed to detect narcotics and drugs hidden in luggage or clothing.

Technically, airport security scanners do not detect drugs but they can provide visual clues of drugs hidden under the clothes and in baggage. Even if the scanners cannot determine the exact composition, they can tell if an object is organic or metallic or how low or high density an object have.

X-ray scanners use low levels of ionizing radiation to create an image of the contents of a passenger's luggage. These scanners can detect a wide range of items, including weapons, explosives, and drugs.

Body scanners are looking for items that could be potential threats; they're not looking at your physical body. The TSOs see “a generic human form—or avatar—to ensure passenger privacy while maintaining security effectiveness,” Langston says.

Scanners provide detailed images that allow security officers to identify items based on their density and atomic number. This means they can distinguish between various substances, from metals to organic materials such as food, liquids, and even detect indications of substances like drugs and explosives.

You should not attempt to travel with illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia of any kind to avoid airport arrest. If illegal drugs are discovered on your person, in your carry-on luggage, or concealed in your checked baggage, you will immediately be arrested.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) defines Whole Body Imaging as “an umbrella term used to describe technologies that enable TSA to detect prohibited items including weapons, explosives and other metallic and non- metallic threat items concealed under layers of clothing without physical contact.” These ...

Standard security scanners used by security use backscatter X-rays that do not penetrate the body, they just see through clothes and do not present an anatomically correct image to the operator, so a tampon, inserted, would not show up.

As a result, prohibited items may result in both a TSA civil enforcement action and a criminal enforcement action. Before leaving home, remember to check your baggage to ensure you are not carrying any prohibited items to avoid a possible arrest and/or civil penalties.

The Transportation Security Administration randomly swabs passengers' hands at security checkpoints and airport gates to test them for traces of explosives. The TSA swabs are analyzed for nitroglycerin, nitrates, glycerin, or other chemicals. This was an expansion in 2010 from simply swabbing luggage and other items.

What can airport baggage scanners not see? ›

The airport scanner baggage machine can easily detect Stella and non-metallic objects on the body's exterior. However, some scanners can still not see the interior of your body. They can not detect objects in the inner body, like body cavities or operated parts of your body.

Medications in pill or other solid forms must undergo security screening. You can facilitate this screening by clearly labeling medication. Medication can undergo a visual or X-ray screening and may be tested for traces of explosives.

Checked Baggage Screening

The majority of checked baggage is screened without the need for a physical bag search. Inspection Notices: TSA may inspect your checked baggage during the screening process. If your property is physically inspected, TSA will place a notice of baggage inspection inside your bag.

Accordingly, TSA security officers do not search for marijuana or other illegal drugs, but if any illegal substance is discovered during security screening, TSA will refer the matter to a law enforcement officer.

"The waves go through clothing and reflect off the passenger's skin (and whatever else is concealed) and bounce back an image, which is interpreted by the machine." However, the scanners can't detect objects inside the body or buried under the skin.

Passengers have an option to ask for a visual inspection if they don't want their medications screened by an X-ray. A request for a visual inspection, though, must be made before any items are sent through the X-ray tunnel.

Organic materials like paper, food and explosives are orange, while blue or green are used for metals and glass. The denser the material, the darker the colour.