Security screening on arrival?
 

Hi Everyone,

I just got off Jetstar Asia flight 562 from Manila to Singapore and was surprised to notice that we disembarked into a deserted concourse and were herded (with barriers and security staff) through a security clearance procedure. With WTMD, x-ray machines, pat downs and hand held metal detectors it was exactly the same as a pre-flight security clearance ... except that we had just got off the flight. After we were checked we were able to proceed to immigration and customs.

As no documents were checked, customs inspections are done after immigration, and any connecting pax would be rescreened before boarding their next flight, i couldn't see any purpose in screening us then. Could anyone shed any more light on this?

Cheers,
afterDawn

Possible drug tipoff, perhaps?

Please follow as the thread moves to the Travel Safety/Security forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

I'd say drugs. TSA seems more concerned with finding "illegal substances" than providing real air security.

Didn't know that TSA had arms that long!

Singapore occasionally disembarks flights from places with "substandard" security procedures into additional screening. It's been that way for years. As pointed out, since connecting to any other flight requires screening, it's always seemed a bit unnecessary to me, but that's the way they do it.
Flights from Indonesia and the Philippines are the usual suspects to trigger this, as the OP found out. I believe there's a thread either in the Singapore or the SQ forum on this, though it's a few years old by now.

With metal detectors, drugs doesn't seem likely. Especially since everyone's going to have to pass through customs, anyhow.

There are some airports where arriving international passengers are screened because the airport is configured so that even passengers who are leaving the airport pass though the secure area (or otherwise can come into contact with someone in the secure area). There are a couple of US airports that are like this: I think ATL and DTW(?) are examples.

I didn't think Singapore was one of them, though. Odd.

Required reading! Here's a story of a determined TSA resister who won, and passed a TSA checkpoint without being searched, just through patience and stubbornness.

http://noblasters.com/post/1650102322/my-tsa-encounter

They can not force you to undergo a search after you get off the plane if all you want to do is exit the airport. Though it's a little strange that your checkpoint was before customs; I think in the story above the guy had already passed through customs when the TSA tried to violate him.

While it does seem odd, but if the person was doing/planning/carrying something illicit that they wanted to keep them away from the general populace before they had a chance to clear them. I.e. the plane may have had only a 100 people on it while the immigration/customs area had a 1000 people. Further, not all people may be been connecting so perhaps for those staying they wanted a quick check. And because it was unknown who that would be everyone gets checked.

Bingo.

Welcome to Flyertalk, mybodyismyown. ^

The link you posted looks familiar and was probably posted here during the run up to National Opt Out Day, but it is indeed a good read. :)

They do it in International arrival in Atlanta, in all airports in India, and in many other airports.

Never been to ATL, but I've never faced security screening on arrival at Airports in India. Certainly not on arrival at BOM/DEL/HYD where I've been often over the past 5 years.

I've only been into Singapore once (every other occasion has been an airside transit!) and I don't recall seeing the classic "customs" checkpoints that one sees in most other countries. From what I remember (and this was three years ago), I got my passport stamped and walked straight out past the baggage conveyor belts and onto the concourse.

My parents are from Singapore and basically the country is one of the strictest in the world in terms of smuggling.

Wrong country to mess with. You don't want to be caught with drugs.. trust me.