New airport X-ray machine at NAIA screens luggage too quickly

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) officials were forced to stop using a new X-ray machine at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 after finding the equipment unsuitable for screening luggage.

The device worked perfectly except that it moves from one item to another too fast that items would literally end up falling off the rack and piling up.

NAIA assistant general manager for security and emergency services, retired General Angel Atutubo, said they decided not use the machine, which was lent to them last week.

"It was working but it does not comply with the operational requirements needed to ensure security," he told The STAR in an interview.

He noted that the supposedly "defective" X-ray machine is not among the four new ones which the MIAA bought recently for use at Terminal 1, which are Defense Smith Herman brands from Germany.

"We did not spend anything or lose anything. It was just lent to us for testing," Atutubo said, referring to the new fast machine.

Some employees who saw how the machine worked joked about how it could be cited for an overspeeding violation and fined because of how fast it went through luggage.

At present, Chief Inspector Jonathan Galang, station chief of the 1st Police Center for Aviation Services, said the departure area has three working X-ray machines for the initial security check and four others for the final luggage check.

Last week, MIAA general manager Alfonso Cusi announced the purchase and upcoming installation of four new X-ray machines which will further boost security measures at the NAIA.

He said the new X-ray machines will augment the others already installed at the inspection counters of Terminals 1 and 2.

Atutubo said the new X-ray machines, which were bought with funds generated from newly imposed security fees paid by departing passengers, will be installed this week.