Heathrow to install 3D scanners capable of examining passengers' luggage in minute detail
The machines, reminiscent of MRI scanners in hospitals, instantly provide a clear picture of the contents of your bag. A security officer at the airport will be able to examine and study each item and its interior in 3D, rotating it in different directions if necessary.
"This cutting-edge equipment will not only support airport security with the latest technology, but also ensure that our future passengers can spend less time on screening," explains Heathrow Airport CEO Chris Garton.
According to UK Aviation Minister Charlotte Vere, passenger safety remains a top priority for the authorities, so "this program clearly demonstrates the enormous attention we pay to security."
Similar screening technologies have already begun to be used in the US, at airports in Atlanta and Chicago. The US Transportation Security Administration plans to install 300 such scanners by 2020.
As BBC notes, London's Heathrow Airport is the largest international airport in the British capital and the seventh busiest passenger hub in the world.