With the Mumbai airport switching to the ‘in-line’ baggage checking system, false alarms are giving security officials a tough time. The previous method, ‘stand alone’ baggage system, involved screening of a passenger’s baggage physically at the time of checking-in, whereas in the present system, the check-in baggage is screened automatically. Under the new system, the passenger is required to deposit check-in baggage at the counter while collecting the boarding pass.

With this automated system in place, every time there is an alarm, the officials physically check the luggage only to find that substances such as rice flour, toy guns and baby powder have caused it.

“There are three levels of security checks in the in-line baggage system. The first involves general screening where the official has to screen a baggage from three-four angles within 25 seconds. If he finds any questionable object inside a baggage then he marks it for level two check where a screening official is allowed to completely screen the baggage in two-three minutes,” said an official from the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL). However, according to the official, whenever there is a need to check passenger’s baggage physically, it calls for a level three check.

“In the level three check, the passenger is called to the security room and his baggage is checked. And usually we find rice flour, toy guns or baby powder instead of objectionable items. Such a situation arises at least ten times in a day,” said the official.

The ‘in-line’ inspection systems, unlike their ‘stand-alone’ counterparts, use automated networks of Explosive Detection Systems (EDS) and are able to handle thousands of bags each hour at busy airports. At the Mumbai airport, the system was implemented in phases. About 21 counters at the international airport are yet to be integrated into the system.

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