At the Jackosn Medgar Wylie Evers International Airport, a third security checkpoint has recently opened to accommodate resumed service with Southwest Airlines. In other airports across the state, new technology is being rolled out to expand security measures while not slowing down the check-in process. Kim Jackson is the Federal Security Director for the Transportation Security Administration in Mississippi. He says the technologies that have been developed since 9/11 have helped to keep Mississippians safe while traveling.
“We continue to improve on our technology. We have a technology center that’s always trying to improve, and then also we are equipping all of the airports with the latest and greatest technology,” says Jackson. “Qualified, professional [transportation security officers] for us is one of the greatest things preventing items from getting on the aircraft.”
Technologies have progressed throughout the past two decades at the airport, ranging from standard X-ray machines to modern 3D scanning devices that allow officers to better understand what an object is without having to open a bag.
Security officers continue to receive routine training to have the best understanding of how to protect passengers. Soon, new bomb dogs will also be joining the force.
Ursula Wilson is the Lead Transportation Security Officer at the airport. She says even 20 years after the September 11th attacks, officers are not letting their guard down.
“We’re supposed to treat everything as if it’s a threat. We can’t get too comfortable and allow things to slip through that we wouldn’t do on a regular basis,” says Wilson.
In less than three months, more than 200 lbs of illegal items have been removed by the airport, including knives, tools, and weights.
