Aviation securityMud triggers Logan alarm
Scanning machines at Logan Airport detected minute traces of nitrates in a checked luggage, and sounded the alarm; two gates were evacuated as a precaution; police found that the nitrates emanated from mud sample a Honk Kong University doctoral student was carrying in the luggage; the samples were to be used in research
Sensitive baggage screening machines at Logan Airport picked up something suspicious in a checked baggage, and security personnel closed two gates as a precaution.
The Boston Herald reports that the scanners picked up minute quantities of nitrate.
An investigation found that the nitrates emanated from a suitcase of a doctoral student at Honk Kong University. The student carried mud samples in the suitcase – samples to be used in research at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Nitrates may be used in explosives.
Both the police and airport security pointed out that the scanners were sensitive enough to pick up traces quantities of nitrates.
