As lawmakers work to figure out how a suspected terrorist smuggled a make shift bomb on an airplane, security at the Jackson-Evers International Airport is stepping up their efforts.
The Department of Homeland Security's threat advisory level for domestic flights is orange, which is the second highest level. It means there is a high risk of a terrorist attack.
Airport security officials in Jackson say they are trying to form a stronger partnership with passengers, encouraging them to be on the lookout for suspicious activity.
"If you notice anything, if you see anything, if you think anything is suspicious, report it to your nearest law enforcement official," said Denson Stasher, director of operations and security.
Stasher says as the threat advisory increases, he tries to maintain a larger, more visible security presence, which some passengers welcome.
"I don't mind the extra time it takes a TSA agent to check through my bags," said Valerie Carter, who is flying to Minneapolis-St. Paul.
"A little nerve racking knowing I was going to be flying back," said Laurel Blisset, who is flying to Denver, which uses full body scanners to search passengers for anything a terrorist might use. "I think it's a good thing, more accurate than checking bags and going through the censors."
The passenger screening process is regulated by the Transportation Security Administration, which has a close relationship with airport security.
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