The U.S. moved Friday to boost security at airports in the Middle East where passenger and cargo flights take off for the United States, even as investigators continue to probe whether a bomb brought down a Russian jetliner over the Sinai Peninsula last weekend.
Homeland Security chief Jeh Johnson said he is taking the precautionary measures "out of an abundance of caution," adding to aviation security requirements already in place at airports with direct flights to the United States. He did not identify the airports where the U.S. would boost security.
Johnson said there would be "expanded screening" of items aboard aircraft, assessment of security at airports conducted with foreign officials and offers of U.S. assistance for enhanced security.
He said his agency would continue to assess overseas airport security and "consider whether additional changes are appropriate."
