The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) positioned 20 bomb-sniffing dogs at the Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) Airport to handle an influx of travelers in the days leading up to and following Super Bowl LII.
TSA usually screens approximately 34,000 travelers at the airport on a typical day. However, TSA expected to screen 69,000 people on Monday as travelers to Super Bowl LII headed home.
Passenger screening canines were used to help expedite the screening process at MSP Airport. Positioned near passenger screening areas, the dogs can detect the scent of explosives or explosives devices in large crowds. Once detected, the dogs can pinpoint the source and subtly signal to their handlers.
“Passenger screening canines are able to work in large crowds in a busy transportation environment and can pinpoint the source of an explosive odor,” Cliff Van Leuven, federal security director for the state of Minnesota at TSA, said. “We are thrilled to add this additional layer of security during what is guaranteed to be a peak travel period at MSP.”
Some of the canine teams are typically stationed at the airport. However, additional teams were brought in from airports around the Midwest to help handle the influx of Super Bowl travelers.