Officials at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport say the Transportation Security Administration is experiencing major delays in its checked bag screening system.
As of Thursday afternoon, over 1,000 bags are at Sky Harbor that are not able to be screened at the airport. Those bags will either be sent to Tucson International Airport or to San Diego International Airport to be screened, and will then be sent to their final destination.
This. @abc15 @PHXSkyHarbor pic.twitter.com/ulSiGKK2bU
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Airport officials say they're advising passengers to avoid checking luggage if possible.
Flights are departing as scheduled, but travelers' bags will be delayed getting to their final destination.
TSA officials say there are issues with the computer server that automates the electronic screening of checked luggage.
They say it's not a safety issue and they're using alternative screening methods to get as many bags as possible on flights, but some are having to be sent to other destinations to be screened. The alternative process is more time consuming than their automated system.
There's no immediate word on when the issued with the checked bag screening system will be resolved.
