South Bend airport gets body scanner

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - South Bend Regional Airport has started using a full body scanner at its security checkpoint.

Transportation Security Administration spokesman Jim Fotenos tells WSBT-TV the airport began using the device on Wednesday. It will help scan for metallic and non-metallic objects such as weapons, gels, liquids, plastics, powders, aerosols and explosives and ingredients for explosives.

Fotenos says the scanner will let passengers with medical devices such as artificial hips and pacemakers through without a problem because it's designed to flag things on the outside of a person's body. As passengers exit the machine, a small screen either shows a TSA inspector a green "OK" or a box if it finds something questionable.

Fotenos says the scanner emits less radiation than a cellphone.