Laptop Ban On Planes Might Expand To All International Flights: Homeland Security Chief

Department of Homeland Security John Kelly is considering expanding the ban on carrying laptops in airplane cabins to all international flights coming in and out of the United States.

Kelly made the comments in an interview with Fox News' Chris Wallace on Sunday. In the interview, Kelly discussed aviation security and said that in addition to possibly expanding the laptop ban, a tighter screening of carry-on bags that the TSA is currently testing might soon be expanding to airports nationwide.

Currently, passengers on incoming international flights to the U.S. traveling from eight Middle Eastern countries are not allowed to bring an electronic device larger than a cellphone in the cabin of an airplane.

Asked by Wallace if the U.S. was considering expanding the ban, Kelly responded, "I might."

In expanding on his answer, Kelly said there is a real threat.

"That's really the thing that they are obsessed with, the terrorists, the idea of knocking down an airplane in flight, particularly if it’s a U.S. carrier, particularly if it's full of mostly U.S. folks, people," he said.

Kelly said that generally speaking, the bar on aviation security will be raised much higher than it is now.

Discussing tighter screening for carry-on bags, Kelly said people looking to avoid airline fees for checked baggage are stuffing bags to the point that TSA professionals can't tell what's in the bags anymore. He said they are in the process of figuring out how to best implement tighter screening with the least amount of inconvenience to travelers.

Kelly also commented on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals upholding the injunction on President Trump's travel order, saying the court was "dead wrong."

You can watch the full interview below.

Image Credit: US Southern Command