X-ray operators reaching into machine to inspect items?
 

Long-time lurker; first-time contributor.

At ORD last week, I had passed through the security checkpoint and was collecting my carryon bag when I noticed something that seemed out of place. The TSA clerk operating the X-ray machine at the checkpoint was able -- via either an open panel or some sort of large hatch that I could see from my position at the end of the belt -- to reach inside the X-ray machine and remove items for visual inspection.

To clarify: though bags and personal items passing through the machine remained physically and visually inaccessible to their owners, the clerk on the opposite side of the machine was able to remove them by an opening on his side of the covered portion of the belt. I wouldn't have noticed at all, except that he had actually reached inside the machine and pulled out a pair of boots to visually inspect their interiors. It seemed like a serious security issue ... the clerk could have removed items from bags, or even put foreign objects into them, without passengers being any the wiser.

Has anyone else seen this before? Is it SOP for TSA clerks to remove items from the covered part of the X-ray belt for visual inspection?

Welcome to FlyerTalk! :)

This sounds like the “cage” I’ve seen at the exit side of the x-ray that allows screeners access to bags and other items, while PAX have to wait until it fully exits before it can be retrieved. I’ve had screeners ask “Is this your bag?” when I could not see what they were talking about, to which I alert them to that fact. Then they have to physically pull it out to show me.

Don't know if it's SOP or not, but it is not at all unusual. I would guess they put the openings there for them to do so, so maybe it is considered SOP. The only way to keep them out of your bags is to lock or wire tie or whatever so they can't easily open them without you being there.

Thanks for the responses! I suppose I'd always been in too much of a hurry to notice it before; this time, I was waiting for a coworker to clear security and finally started to pay attention. :)

Welcome to FlyerTalk!

This access pathway is yet another reason why I zip-tie my carry-ons before going through a C/P.

That’s exactly what I do, I lock my roll a board with a small combination lock and my attaché case, which has a built in combination lock so no TSO can open my carry ons out of my sight.

I know I have to give them permission to inspect my carry ons, but it will be done in my presence and I make sure they change their gloves before they open my bags.

Why do I do this, to prevent some sticky handed TSO from stealing anything out of my carry on luggage or damaging anything, do I trust TSO’s, absolutely not, enough of them, over 200 in the past 2 years have been arrested for theft.

And that is just the ones that have been caught.

Mr. Elliott

It's built into the machinery, it pretty much has to be SOP.