How to convince airport security that I am not dangerous when having metallic parts in my body?
- By
- Aparna Patel
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- 17 Feb, 2025
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98👍
When I flew from Vienna to Amsterdam and back, my fears were confirmed: The security staff inspected me very precisely, and I had to explain my story to them. Thank goodness I have some scars left so they believed me!
It is not a problem. There are many, many people with metal implants and the standard procedure is simply explaining your condition after an alert is raised. You are singled out and checked with a hand induction device. You need not to be afraid, this is standard practice.
However, this is not a permanent solution for the future. Is there any international "passport" which my doctor and hospital do not know about? If not, what else are my possibilities?
You are wrong on this account, it is the permanent solution. The idea of checking you is to rule out the possibility that you smuggle something on board.
Think about it: If there were "passports" from a doctor, the very first thing people who want to smuggle something into the plane will do is to falsify such documents to avoid detection. Or even nastier, coerce people with a real "passport" to smuggle something involuntarily on board.
It also does not help that the personnel will not be able to check the given "passport" in a reasonable time because your condition is part of medical confidentiality and your personal privacy.
So simply explain your condition and wear comfortable clothes which makes it easy to check your shoulder.
EDIT: Another problem with the idea of "passports": Even if you have a passport, the personnel still needs to check you because you can still try to smuggle another thing on board. So a "passport" makes absolutely no difference. I suppose the "passport" for bigger implants informs the personnel that their detector is functioning normally when it detects copious amounts of metal on your body.
EDIT II: If you have several metal implants on different body parts, I consider it a good idea to have X-rays with the implants available so that the personnel can easily cross-check their detector findings with the implant locations.
24👍
tl;dr: "I have a medical implant in my X" appears to be the magic phrase in the USA.
Since 1999, I have had a 12-inch titanium rod in my right femur that extends up from a full knee replacement. Contrary to previous posters, I always set off a metal detector. I primarily fly in the USA, and my security strategy outlined below has worked everywhere I've traveled around the world (except Israel). I do not have any extra documents from doctors or government authorities.
I have two strategies:
Always use the millimeter wave scanner. Even if the security agent waves me toward a metal detector, I say "I have a medical implant" and stay in line for the scanner. They have always understood what that means with regards to the metal detector.
If there is only a metal detector, I walk through the detector, set it off, look the security agent in the eye and say "I have a medical implant in my right leg". Then during the extended screening, I demonstrate to the screener the area that will set off the wand.
Using this procedure, I have never had to do any further screening or drop trou to show scars (except in Israel).
P.S. Israel is a beautiful place, filled with beautiful and brilliant people. But they take their security VERY seriously. :)
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This is becoming increasingly common due to advancements in modern surgery, allowing for procedures that were not possible in the past. However, with heightened security measures, it is also more common to be flagged for having metal in or on your body.
There are a few steps you can take to navigate these situations, based on personal experience with having a significant amount of metal in my chest:
- Obtain a letter from your doctor. While rarely necessary, an official letter from your doctor can be helpful in addressing any skepticism about your medical history.
- If the metal is visible, show or explain it. While internal metal is more difficult to demonstrate, this can help ease concerns if the metal is visible.
- Anticipate a secondary scan if you have internal metal. While initial detectors may not always pick up internal metal, a hand-held scanner usually does. Clearly and calmly explaining your surgical history can usually resolve any issues.
If you have an implanted device, such as a pace-maker or internal defibrillator, you can obtain an internationally-recognized card that indicates you should not go through a metal detector. Instead, you will be hand-searched. However, effectiveness of these cards in foreign countries with different languages is uncertain.
Above all, be honest and clear. Be prepared with documentation if necessary, and ensure you have removed all other metal objects to make the process smoother for both parties involved.