Travelers on planes to the United States will face new in-flight restrictions in the wake of an attempted attack on a Detroit-bound flight.
New security measures will require passengers to remain seated for the entire hour before landing, according to new Transportation Security Administration rules detailed by Air Canada in a statement to its customers.
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Travelers could also be subject to a physical search of carry-on bags before boarding the plane. Passengers will also not be allowed to access carry-on baggage or have any personal items on their laps during the last hour of flight.
In addition, passengers will not be allowed to use pillows or blankets up to an hour before the plane touches down, NBC reported.
The changes in policy comes after Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, a Nigerian man with alleged ties to al-Qaeda, attempted an attack on a flight as it prepared to land in Detroit Friday.
“Passengers flying from international locations to U.S. destinations may notice additional security measures in place,” Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Saturday in a statement. “These measures are designed to be unpredictable, so passengers should not expect to see the same thing everywhere.”
Abdulmutallab was subdued before his attack could be fully carried out and the plane landed without fatalities. He received third-degree burns during the alleged terror attempt.
President Obama spoke with his security advisers Saturday morning, White House spokesman Bill Burton said. “He received an update on the heightened air travel safety measures being taken to keep the American people safe and on the investigation. The President will continue to actively monitor the situation, ” Burton said.