The Transportation Security Administration is now asking some travelers on direct flights to the United States to turn on their cellphones to make sure they power up.
“This is not something to overreact to or overspeculate about, but it’s something we felt was necessary,” said Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson on Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
“In this instance we felt that it was important to crank it up some at the last point of departure airports and we’ll continually evaluate the situation,” he said.
{mosads}The screening includes all electronic devices.
“Powerless devices will not be permitted onboard the aircraft,” TSA said in a statement.
Johnson said his department is continuing to evaluate the global situation as concerns increase about threats by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
“Obviously we’re concerned any time a terrorist organization acquires territory, picks up capability,” he said.