Mandatory fingerprinting due at Heathrow

LONDON, March 8 (UPI) -- London's Heathrow Airport will beef up security by instituting mandatory fingerprinting of all passengers boarding flights, the airport's managers say.

The new security plan will mark the first time all domestic passengers leaving an airport terminal will be required to be fingerprinted before boarding, The Daily Telegraph said Saturday.

Passengers not only will have four fingerprints taken as they check in for their outgoing flight at Terminal 5, but also will have their photograph taken by airport officials.

Before a passenger attempts to actually board the plane, flight officials will compare the boarding passenger's fingerprints and image with those taken at the main terminal.

Heathrow operator, BAA, said the increased security effort at Terminal 5 was because both international and domestic passengers use the area after initially checking in.

Company officials were concerned the international passengers may attempt to switch boarding passes with domestic passengers in an attempt to avoid detection while traveling, the Telegraph said.