TSA regulations vague on gadgets after Detroit incident
(Read article summary)Travelers were prohibited from using electronics on international flights this weekend, and in-flight WiFi and TV were banned, but TSA regulations keep changing.
The Transportation Security Authority appears to be scrambling in the wake of a Christmas Day incident aboard a Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Detroit.
On approach to Detroit International Airport, Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab attempted to ignite explosives sewn into his pants. He was discovered by other passengers and subdued, and the flight landed without further incident.
On Monday, the TSA revised a security directive from a day before that had instructed airlines to limit passenger movement 1 hour prior to landing, and which prohibited the use of electronics aboard international flights into the US. Also outlawed were crew announcements about landmarks visible on the ground.
The directive, posted by various airline industry blogs Sunday, told airlines to:
Disable aircraft-integrated passenger communications systems and services (phone, internet access services, live television programming, global positioning systems) prior to boarding and during all phases of flight.
