Explosives Found in Passenger’s Shoes

Richard Reid boarded an American Airlines flight in Paris [allegedly] with explosives in his sneakers, despite having been extensively interrogated by “French authorities” (Dec. 24). Apparently Inspector Clouseau (in the “Pink Panther” films) has returned and is in charge of security at Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Floyd Sabins

Fullerton

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The recent near-disaster on the flight out of Paris gives a new meaning to the phrase “waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

Joe Cohen

Los Angeles

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Santa’s ABCs for air security:

A--air marshals on all flights.

B--bomb-sniffing of all fully loaded planes right before departure, all passengers and all checked luggage and carry-ons.

C--computer identification and interviews of all passengers and all airline workers.

Walking an explosives-trained dog through each plane with all passengers seated, holding their carry-ons, would offer immensely improved security and would reduce delays at the metal detector and X-ray check points. And the passengers’ sense of well-being would be substantially improved.

Steve Oppenheimer

Northridge

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As I stood in an interminable “security” line at Boston’s Logan Airport, I realized how ludicrous this sham is. Elderly ladies having to take their shoes off, airline pilots taking off their caps and jackets, yet some turbaned individuals allowed through due to “religious reasons.” Search everyone or search no one.

Julianna Faulkner

San Diego

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I question the value and the necessity of the increased delays at airports. No patriotism here and little increase in security. The waits are unnecessary, the result of staff cuts. On a recent trip with Delta, we found the principal waits were at the luggage counter (too few clerks available to check in luggage) and at the gate (too few clerks to check IDs). Passing through security was a relatively rapid process.

A real savings in time along with an increase in security would result if airlines would record the photos of frequent fliers (as is currently the case on cruises) and insist on proof of citizenship (as is currently the case on cruises).

As airport personnel are no longer always on duty at LAX to verify that the bags you depart with are the bags you checked in, security has actually decreased.

Phillip Good

Huntington Beach