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Incheon International Airport raised its security level and strengthened inspections for travelers.
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Security level increased to code ’yellow,’ highest so far
After an alleged terror plot was foiled in London on Thursday, airports across the world have been thrown into serious confusion due to stepped-up security measures. The terrorists were set to use liquid explosives, which cannot be detected in traditional security screening. Incheon International and Gimpo airports also raised their security alerts and heightened inspections for airport users. Security at Incheon International Airport, the main gateway to the nation, barred all forms of liquid and gel-like substances from all aircraft bound for the United States. According to the airport authorities, they will take the same measures for airplanes heading for Britain, as well. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) raised the security level for Incheon and Gimhae airports by one notch from ’blue’ to ’yellow’ and stepped up security measures. The security level for airports is raised from ’green’ in usual times to increased security increments of ’blue,’ ’yellow,’ ’orange,’ and ’red,’ Since the inception of the color-coded warning system, the nation’s airports have until now maintained the level of ’blue.’Airports in South Korea advised passengers to remove banned materials from their hand luggage before check-in. But some passengers had their belongings seized at inspection counters. In addition, all outbound passengers’ footwear has to be X-rayed. Authorities at Incheon stressed that "passengers boarding aircraft bound for the U.S. should arrive the airport two and half hours before departure." Shortly after the terror plot was uncovered in London, the U.S. raised the security level to ’red,’ the highest level, for aircraft flying between the nation and Britain for the first time since the system was inaugurated post-9/11. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security banned nearly all forms of liquid and gel-like substances from aircraft, and barred laptop computers from U.S. and British carriers. As the check-in process has been lengthened by two or three times due to strengthened inspections, many flights were canceled or delayed at major airports in the two nations.
