Switched has a new home! Huffpost Tech.

Click here to visit the new home of Switched!

Hot on HuffPost Tech:

See More Stories
AOL Tech

Kevlar Containers Could Thwart Suitcase Bombs

by Terrence O'Brien on September 30, 2008 at 07:10 AM

Kevlar Containers Could Thwart Suitcase Bombs
The government is currently considering new luggage containers for airplanes made of reinforced Kevlar, which could protect passenger jets from small suitcase bombs that might go undetected by luggage scanners.

Suitcase bombs have been a worry of officials since the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988, when an explosive slipped by scanners into the belly of the jet. Of course, modern scanners are much more sensitive and explosive devices that are small enough to slip by them could easily be contained if detonated within these five foot by five foot luggage containers.

Many airlines are resisting the idea, primarily because the government hasn't offered any financial assistance to institute the program. The containers are heavy (265 pounds) and expensive ($18,000). The airlines are already struggling to stay afloat and can't afford to outfit much of their fleet of aircraft with these containers. Additionally, the weight of the containers reduces the amount of cargo and passengers a plane can carry, further reducing revenue.

The containers are the result of 17 years of research and failed prototypes. Eventually, the government may shell out for containers on flights coming from countries with high levels of terrorist activity, but we probably won't see them on domestic flights any time soon. [From: USA Today]

Tags: airlines, airplane, flight, luggage, luggage container, LuggageContainer, safety, security, terrorism, travel

HuffPost AOL Social News Most Popular