The rest of the time, the laptops were just passed through X-ray machines. Those machines can detect weapons, but not plastic explosives. But security experts say that forcing a traveler to open a laptop, turn it on and show that it works proves nothing. Working computers and cellular phones can contain explosive devices. He originally allowed her to pass after viewing it on the X-ray machine.
Notebook computers can be a very easy way to put a lot of explosives on a plane.
Ga. At United Airlines' terminal at O'Hare, travelers carrying laptops and cellular phones passing through security were pulled to the side in groups of six to demonstrate that their computers and phones actually worked.