Airport security alert: This tiny item in your pocket can cause ‘additional’ check

A filmmaker and actor, JD Majethia, recently experienced an unexpected delay at two airports in India due to a tiny piece of foil or wrapper in his pocket. While food wrapped in silver or aluminium foil is generally permitted through X-ray screening, a small piece of foil in a pocket can trigger a metal detector, leading to a manual bag check or pat-down and additional scrutiny.

Majethia recounted the incident on Instagram, where he shared how a discarded medicine strip found in his pocket triggered an additional security check at Hyderabad airport.

The metal detection equipment may respond to metallic materials in medicine strips, even though the amount of material is small. Aviation expert Dhairyashil Vandekar explained that an alarm indicates the presence of a characteristic requiring further assessment but does not necessarily mean the object is dangerous or prohibited. Security personnel may then conduct an additional check to identify the source of the alert, which is a normal part of the security screening process.

To avoid such delays, passengers are advised to thoroughly check their pockets before boarding and consider placing medicine strips along with other metallic personal items in the screening tray. In case an HHMD is used, passengers should follow the instructions of the security personnel conducting the screening. Vandekar emphasized the importance of consistent application of security procedures across the aviation system, as a similar alert during a previous screening should be assessed and resolved before concluding the screening process.