U.S. authorities plan to screen carry-ons with 3-D X-ray devices

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) may soon screen passengers' carry-on bags with new three-dimensional X-ray machines that are better at spotting liquid explosives, guns and other weapons, The USA Today reported on Wednesday.

The TSA would evaluate the machines in the coming months, which could provide more detailed images than the X-rays airports have used for 30 years. The old X-rays have been criticized by the Homeland Security Department's inspector general for inadequately spotting explosives, guns and knives.

The upgraded machines, called multiview X-ray, scan from several angles to create three-dimensional images of items in a bag. Current X-ray machines use one image that can make a knife look like a pen, according to the report.

The 3-D machines have "an extraordinary ability" to find liquids, TSA chief Kip Hawley said.

The TSA has limited the volume of liquids passengers can carry on planes since authorities foiled an alleged plot in London in August to bomb U.S.-bound flights with liquid bombs.

Source: Xinhua