Broken scanner slows airport screening in Ketchikan

KETCHIKAN (AP) -- The X-ray machine that scans carryon baggage at the Ketchikan International Airport is broken, causing security personnel to conduct hand-searches on all carryon baggage.

The machine broke Monday night and will have to be replaced, said Jerry Graham, deputy federal security director for the airport.

He estimated it could take up to two weeks before a new machine arrives.

Until that happens, ''Everybody that goes through the walkthrough right now has to have their bags physically searched,'' Graham said.

The Transportation Security Administration is offering overtime to screeners who wish to pick up extra shifts while the machine is down, he said.

''We have more people there working the walkthrough, so we can get people on the plane without delaying it,'' Graham said.

The TSA is encouraging travelers to arrive at the airport two hours prior to departure. Graham said Alaska Airlines is enforcing the 20-minute rule, which means no passengers will be allowed to check in 20 minutes or less before a flight is scheduled to depart.