Originally Posted by
LegalTender
Facing another IRROP at LAX today and wondering this:
Why can't Customs "clear" international flights the SAME DAY they arrive so that onward domestic runs aren't delayed by the security sweep?
It would make equipment changes at big stations like LAX much easier. Obviously, safety comes first. But aren't arriving flights routinely cleared ASAP?
Originally Posted by
MSPeconomist
Why does customs do the security sweep? Shouldn't it be done by security specialists or the TSA?
IIRC the sweep has to be done just prior to the aircraft going back online for its next flight. Since they weren't expecting to use that aircraft for this flight, perhaps it wasn't scheduled to be back online for some hours so they had scheduled it for later. For example, in ATL, an international inbound plane may be towed to the hangar after arrival to free up gate space prior to its next flight, then the sweep would happen when it's brought back online.
The process is done by airline personnel.