{
  "id": 6849075,
  "title": "US Airport Security: Major changes 25 years after 9/11",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/us-airport-security-major-changes-25-years-after-9-11",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-12T02:54:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/world/us-airport-security-major-changes-25-years-after-9-11-10873107/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Twenty-five years after the 9/11 attacks altered air travel in the United States, airport security is undergoing its most significant changes in decades. Rules implemented after the 9/11 attacks and subsequent terror plots are now being revisited or eased as screening technology has advanced. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is reinstating limited access to airport gates for individuals without a flight and exploring potential relaxation of restrictions on carrying water through security. These developments come after the end of the long-standing shoe-removal mandate last year. Aviation security expert Jeff Price commented to the BBC that advancements in technology have made it feasible to reassess some of these policies. Here are the major alterations:\n\n01. Gate Access: Eligible TSA PreCheck members will now be able to bypass security lines and enter gates without a flight ticket to greet or farewell family and friends. The list of participating airports can be found on the official TSA website, and interested applicants can apply online one to three days prior to their visit.\n\n02. Gateside TSA PreCheck: This program will be available at 13 US airports. Eligible participants who wish to access a gate without a ticket can apply online one to three days before their planned visit.\n\n03. Water Restrictions: The Trump administration is reportedly contemplating permitting TSA PreCheck travelers to transport full water bottles through airport security. This proposal follows a 2006 failed UK terror plot involving liquid chemical mixtures hidden in beverage containers. The TSA has yet to confirm this potential change.\n\n04. Shoe Removal: Passengers are no longer obligated to remove their shoes during TSA security screenings. This nationwide requirement, introduced in 2006 in response to Richard Reid's attempted 2001 bombing using explosives concealed in his footwear, was abolished last year. Other measures remain in effect, including the need to remove belts and coats and to remove laptops and liquids from bags. However, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has stated that these regulations are currently under review. She emphasized that a \"multi-layered\" screening process would continue even as airport procedures are simplified. Social media reactions to these changes have been divided, with some older travelers expressing satisfaction at returning to the \"normalcy\" of pre-9/11 air travel, while younger individuals have questioned whether easing the rules could impact safety. Price acknowledged the nostalgia for aviation before 9/11, but stressed that modifications should only be implemented if security is not jeopardized. Airlines for America, an organization that represents major US airlines, endorsed the termination of the shoe-removal mandate, stating that it would make travel more efficient while preserving security.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Gate access for non-fliers reinstated via TSA PreCheck program at 13 US airports",
    "Water restrictions being reconsidered, potential full bottles allowed through security",
    "Shoe removal mandate lifted nationwide, regulations under review by Homeland Security"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}