Passengers flying with pets are being warned to not put their animals by means of X-ray machines at airports.
The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has taken the step of reminding individuals after “too many” incidents of creatures being put by means of safety screening tools.
Pets are required to move by means of airport safety metallic detectors however relatively than fed by means of a conveyor belt with luggage, they need to be faraway from carriers and brought by means of (both walked or within the arms of the passenger).
“Pets often travel with their humans and are thought of like family members, which is why it’s important that if a passenger is traveling with their pet to become familiar with the security procedures for pets and how to go through the checkpoint security screening process together quickly and easily,” mentioned the TSA.
“Key in the screening of pets is to know that they should never be screened through a checkpoint X-ray unit.”
Empty animal carriers should move by means of safety like another piece of bags, and the TSA burdened that travellers ought to be conscious that pet journey restrictions can differ between airports and airways.
In late 2022, a canine was despatched by means of an airport X-ray machine after being zipped inside a passenger’s backpack. The small canine, a dachshund-Chihuahua combine, was “a little skittish” when it got here out of the machine however in any other case unhurt, based on a TSA spokesperson.
The incident occurred two weeks after a cat was found inside and faraway from a suitcase at New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport.
Meanwhile, a lady in Tampa, Florida, was barred from flying after she claimed a four-foot boa constrictor – who she referred to as Bartholemew – present in her baggage was an “emotional support” snake.
In recent years, a number of US airways have tightened up the principles on “emotional support animals”, utilized by some passengers for psychiatric or nervousness causes.
In 2018 a passenger was faraway from a Frontier Airlines flight once they tried to deliver an “emotional support squirrel” onboard.
