The story behind airport shoe policies

Richard Reid, Charged with terrorism, Heightened fears, Security screenings changed, Inconsistent implementation, Effectiveness questioned, Shoe scanning technology, For use on public transport, Passengers under 12 and over 75 can bypass measure, Shoe policy didn't add much, Existing technology replaces shoe scanning, Some people may still have to remove shoes, X-ray screenings, ID verification

In July 2025, the US Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) has announced an end to their no-shoes policy when passing through airport security checks. The shoe removal policy came into effect in 2001, when a passenger tried to bring shoe explosives onto a flight from Paris, bound to Miami. Read more about the history of the no-shoe policy by clicking through the gallery.

Richard Reid

Richard Reid, Charged with terrorism, Heightened fears, Security screenings changed, Inconsistent implementation, Effectiveness questioned, Shoe scanning technology, For use on public transport, Passengers under 12 and over 75 can bypass measure, Shoe policy didn't add much, Existing technology replaces shoe scanning, Some people may still have to remove shoes, X-ray screenings, ID verification

Just a handful of months after the infamous September 11th attacks, Richard Reid, a British national, boarded an American Airlines flight from Paris, France, bound for Miami, Florida, on December 22, 2001.

Charged with terrorism

Richard Reid, Charged with terrorism, Heightened fears, Security screenings changed, Inconsistent implementation, Effectiveness questioned, Shoe scanning technology, For use on public transport, Passengers under 12 and over 75 can bypass measure, Shoe policy didn't add much, Existing technology replaces shoe scanning, Some people may still have to remove shoes, X-ray screenings, ID verification

Reid had made the explosives himself, according to FBI agents who detained Reid after an emergency landing at Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts. Reid was arrested and charged with eight charges related to terrorism.

Heightened fears

Richard Reid, Charged with terrorism, Heightened fears, Security screenings changed, Inconsistent implementation, Effectiveness questioned, Shoe scanning technology, For use on public transport, Passengers under 12 and over 75 can bypass measure, Shoe policy didn't add much, Existing technology replaces shoe scanning, Some people may still have to remove shoes, X-ray screenings, ID verification

Reid’s bombing attempt fed already heightened fears of more terrorist attacks targeting the US. Therefore, aviation security experts evaluated ways they could quickly adapt to the perceived threat.

Security screenings changed

Richard Reid, Charged with terrorism, Heightened fears, Security screenings changed, Inconsistent implementation, Effectiveness questioned, Shoe scanning technology, For use on public transport, Passengers under 12 and over 75 can bypass measure, Shoe policy didn't add much, Existing technology replaces shoe scanning, Some people may still have to remove shoes, X-ray screenings, ID verification

Not only did the incident terrify the passengers and crew onboard, but it also changed security screenings in airports. After the incident, passengers were required to remove their shoes for extra screening.

Inconsistent implementation

Richard Reid, Charged with terrorism, Heightened fears, Security screenings changed, Inconsistent implementation, Effectiveness questioned, Shoe scanning technology, For use on public transport, Passengers under 12 and over 75 can bypass measure, Shoe policy didn't add much, Existing technology replaces shoe scanning, Some people may still have to remove shoes, X-ray screenings, ID verification

The policy itself underwent some back-and-forth with its initial implementation. It was implemented and then removed in some airports before it was introduced nationwide in 2006, when the policy was deemed essential for travel safety.

Effectiveness questioned

Richard Reid, Charged with terrorism, Heightened fears, Security screenings changed, Inconsistent implementation, Effectiveness questioned, Shoe scanning technology, For use on public transport, Passengers under 12 and over 75 can bypass measure, Shoe policy didn't add much, Existing technology replaces shoe scanning, Some people may still have to remove shoes, X-ray screenings, ID verification

Since the policy was put into effect, lawmakers complained about the effectiveness of the practice. How much was this practice, which was causing such delays in airports, actually preventing bombings?

Shoe scanning technology

Richard Reid, Charged with terrorism, Heightened fears, Security screenings changed, Inconsistent implementation, Effectiveness questioned, Shoe scanning technology, For use on public transport, Passengers under 12 and over 75 can bypass measure, Shoe policy didn't add much, Existing technology replaces shoe scanning, Some people may still have to remove shoes, X-ray screenings, ID verification

Even before Reid’s bombing attempt, Quantum Magnetics, a security company that is now owned by GE Security, had already developed technology for scanning shoes.

For use on public transport

Richard Reid, Charged with terrorism, Heightened fears, Security screenings changed, Inconsistent implementation, Effectiveness questioned, Shoe scanning technology, For use on public transport, Passengers under 12 and over 75 can bypass measure, Shoe policy didn't add much, Existing technology replaces shoe scanning, Some people may still have to remove shoes, X-ray screenings, ID verification

This technology was already in play long before Reid’s attempt, and it wasn’t just intended for air travel, but to be used in all kinds of public transportation, including railways and subways.

Passengers under 12 and over 75 can bypass measure

Richard Reid, Charged with terrorism, Heightened fears, Security screenings changed, Inconsistent implementation, Effectiveness questioned, Shoe scanning technology, For use on public transport, Passengers under 12 and over 75 can bypass measure, Shoe policy didn't add much, Existing technology replaces shoe scanning, Some people may still have to remove shoes, X-ray screenings, ID verification

In addition to the PreCheck program that was rolled out in 2013, a general rule was applied that allowed passengers under the age of 12 and over the age of 75 to bypass the no-shoe policy.

Shoe policy didn't add much

Richard Reid, Charged with terrorism, Heightened fears, Security screenings changed, Inconsistent implementation, Effectiveness questioned, Shoe scanning technology, For use on public transport, Passengers under 12 and over 75 can bypass measure, Shoe policy didn't add much, Existing technology replaces shoe scanning, Some people may still have to remove shoes, X-ray screenings, ID verification

Security policies in American airports are already thorough and, according to experts, could be considered invasive and “needlessly intrusive.” It seems that the no-shoe policy didn’t add much to existing practices.

Existing technology replaces shoe scanning

Richard Reid, Charged with terrorism, Heightened fears, Security screenings changed, Inconsistent implementation, Effectiveness questioned, Shoe scanning technology, For use on public transport, Passengers under 12 and over 75 can bypass measure, Shoe policy didn't add much, Existing technology replaces shoe scanning, Some people may still have to remove shoes, X-ray screenings, ID verification

The US Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem, reiterated that the security measures and use of technology that are already in place make the shoe policy unnecessary. 

Some people may still have to remove shoes

Richard Reid, Charged with terrorism, Heightened fears, Security screenings changed, Inconsistent implementation, Effectiveness questioned, Shoe scanning technology, For use on public transport, Passengers under 12 and over 75 can bypass measure, Shoe policy didn't add much, Existing technology replaces shoe scanning, Some people may still have to remove shoes, X-ray screenings, ID verification

It is worth noting that travelers who TSA employees decide should undergo an additional security check may still be required to remove their shoes.

X-ray screenings

Richard Reid, Charged with terrorism, Heightened fears, Security screenings changed, Inconsistent implementation, Effectiveness questioned, Shoe scanning technology, For use on public transport, Passengers under 12 and over 75 can bypass measure, Shoe policy didn't add much, Existing technology replaces shoe scanning, Some people may still have to remove shoes, X-ray screenings, ID verification

Passengers will still have to remove a number of items from their bags (e.g., liquids and laptops) and their bodies (e.g., belts and coats). These items will continue to be subjected to the usual X-ray screenings. 

ID verification

Richard Reid, Charged with terrorism, Heightened fears, Security screenings changed, Inconsistent implementation, Effectiveness questioned, Shoe scanning technology, For use on public transport, Passengers under 12 and over 75 can bypass measure, Shoe policy didn't add much, Existing technology replaces shoe scanning, Some people may still have to remove shoes, X-ray screenings, ID verification

All passengers, regardless of the ‘PreCheck’ program, will still have to show identity verification by presenting a valid domestic ID or passport for international travel.

Dogs

Richard Reid, Charged with terrorism, Heightened fears, Security screenings changed, Inconsistent implementation, Effectiveness questioned, Shoe scanning technology, For use on public transport, Passengers under 12 and over 75 can bypass measure, Shoe policy didn't add much, Existing technology replaces shoe scanning, Some people may still have to remove shoes, X-ray screenings, ID verification

Dogs that are used to sniff-detect bombs, drugs, and other illicit items have frequently been used in airports to screen passengers and their belongings. They will continue to be used for this purpose.

Post Related