Hands in pockets when going through metal detector causes problems?

Hands in pockets when going through metal detector causes problems? - Woman Tearing Orange Petals into a Metal Bowl

Had a new one this week. Went through security in Sydney Domestic airport. No problems, I've done this many times. All my stuff in a tray, send it through the scanner, and hands in pockets, I stroll through the metal detector. No beep. No alarm. No problem, normally.

Security: Sir, your hands were in your pockets. You can't do that. Please go back through.

Me: It's...a metal detector? How do my hands in my pockets affect it?

Security: Go back through please sir.

I went back through, hands out of pockets, again no beep, and security was satisfied, although didn't explain the hands in pockets and why this was an issue? Any ideas?



Best Answer

TL/DR: It doesn't, but those are the rules.

The rule most everywhere I've been is you must walk through the metal detector facing forward, arms at your side. Simple physics, there's nothing you can hide with your hands in or out of your pockets.

In your case the screener was either new and fresh from training or is an old stickler for such rules. I typically half crab through a) because I've bumped the machine a few times, b) to see if they're paying attention. >9/10, they're more intent on keeping the line moving.




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Why did my hands get scanned at the airport?

As CNN explained, the Transportation Security Administration randomly swabs passengers' hands at checkpoints and airport gates to test them for traces of explosives. This was an expansion from simply swabbing luggage and other items.

Why does my body set off metal detector?

Too much iron in the body can set off metal detectors. This is rare--and weird--because the human body naturally uses iron and other metals such as zinc, chromium and selenium. Excessive iron is possible if you have a genetic mutation that causes a disease called hemochromatosis.

Why do I set off airport body scanners?

In general, body scanners are designed to detect non-metallic items on people's bodies that metal detectors may miss, USA TODAY reported. The scanners can't see inside of your body, and you don't appear naked in the scan.

Can you pass through metal detectors?

Can you \u201cfool\u201d the metal detector? Some people ask if the metal detector can \u201cbe fooled\u201d. The answer is no. Unless one tried to pass a metal object around the walk-through detector, or some other subrosa action, the metal detector will do its job.



The Science of Airport Security




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Images: Yan Krukov, Victor Freitas, Pavel Chernonogov, Kateryna Babaieva