JFK Airport scanner could let passengers keep laptops in their bags

A new 3-D scanner being tested at New York’s JFK Airport could finally allow travelers to keep laptops and liquids in their bags.

The futuristic contraption — dubbed a computed tomography (CT) scanner — went into use Wednesday at the airport’s American Airlines terminal, TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein said.



The state-of-the-art machine creates a 3-D image of luggage that TSA officials can rotate on a screen to see past clutter in carry-on bags and is better at detecting explosives, including liquid ones, Farbstein said Thursday.

The added visibility means people will no longer have to dredge up their MacBooks or chug their water in the security line.

“CT technology improves detection capability by more effectively detecting threats, thereby increasing overall security effectiveness,” American Airlines, which partnered with the TSA to debut the machine, said in a statement. “In the future, CT could offer the opportunity for passengers to leave liquids, gels, and aerosols, as well as laptops, in their carry-on bags at all times.”

The TSA said it’ll be installing 30 more of the machines at various airports by the end of the year.

By Tamar Lapin