Airport security repercussions due to the September 11, 2001 attacks
Encyclopedia
After the events of September 11, 2001, questions were raised regarding the effectiveness of security at the time, as all 19 hijackers managed to pass existing checkpoints and board the aircraft. Since the attack, security at many airports
worldwide has been escalated, ostensibly to lower the probability of similar events occurring again.
was introduced to handle screening at all US airports. They installed bulletproof and locked cockpit doors. Argenbright Security
, a company that provided security for Newark and Washington Dulles, had problems before in May 2000, because they hired 1,300 untrained security guard
s, including several dozen with criminal records, for Philadelphia International Airport
. The company, which was on probation at the time of the attack, had its probation extended to October 2005.
s. The hijackers
were able to carry these type of knives past airport security
because at the time, they fit the qualifications to be permitted on U.S.
domestic flights: any knife with a blade up to 4 inches (101.6 mm) long was permitted. Box cutters qualified as "menacing" weapons under Hazardous Materials guidelines, but were also considered "trade tools" by some airlines. The dual status of these blades caused much confusion for screeners. FAA
rules placed into effect on September 13, 2001 prohibit any type of knife in secured airport areas and on airplanes. Beginning in 2006, passengers may not carry liquids, gels and aerosols in quantities greater than 3 ounces past security screening, and all bottles must be placed in a clear plastic bag and sent through screening separately.
doors on many aircraft are now strengthened and bulletproof
to prevent unauthorized access. Unlike in previous years, passengers are generally prohibited from entering the cockpit during flight. Some aircraft are equipped with CCTV cameras, so the pilots can monitor the cabin activity. Pilots also have an option to carry a gun
, but must be trained to use it. More air marshals
have been placed onto flights to improve security. Since 2006, passengers cannot carry liquids past security screening checkpoints or onto aircraft, including drinks; all drinks brought onto aircraft must be purchased in the airport after a passenger has gone past security screening.
, Majed Moqed
, Nawaf al-Hazmi
and Salem al-Hazmi
all set off the metal detector alarm. Despite being checked with a hand-held detector, the screener failed to find the items that caused the alarm. They then all boarded the aircraft.
s on passengers at checkpoints. Sensitive areas in airports, including airport ramps and operational spaces, are restricted from the general public. Called a SIDA (Security Identification Display Area
) in the US, these spaces require special qualifications to enter.
believes that the attackers were successful not because of any particular security screening failure, but because using box cutters to hijack planes and then flying them into buildings had never been seriously considered before as an attack vector. A similar attack attempted today would surely meet with more resistance, as passengers are now fully aware of the potential .
Another common criticism is that any terrorist prevented from carrying a knife onto an airplane could easily improvise a weapon by, for example, smashing a glass bottle - or just attack with his or her bare hands .
Evidence of this can be seen in the events of September 11, 2001 itself, as the passengers on the fourth plane resisted the hijackers once their friends and family called in to report what had happened with the previous three planes. The only difference between this plane and the others was public awareness . Before September 11, curtains were used to partition the first class cabin from the main cabin . Since the hijackers were all in first class, the main cabin was mostly unaware of what was going on until it was too late. Since then, most airlines have eliminated the curtains, as they pose a security risk and had little other purpose than to symbolically divide the cabins.
Shortly after the destruction of the World Trade Center on September 11, a law was passed that banned visitors from passing the security checkout point , where they used to go to the terminals to say goodbye to their friends or wait for their friends to come . Non-passengers accompanying a minor, an elderly person, a person with special needs, or military personnel are exempt . However, they must obtain a gate pass before being allowed to pass through the security checkpoint . This law is still in effect today .
, Southwest Airlines
and U.S. Attorney General
John Ashcroft
, arguing that requiring passengers to show identification before boarding domestic flights is tantamount to an internal passport
, and is unconstitutional. Gilmore initially lost the case, known as Gilmore v. Gonzales
, and an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was denied.
Airport security
Airport security refers to the techniques and methods used in protecting airports and aircraft from crime.Large numbers of people pass through airports. This presents potential targets for terrorism and other forms of crime due to the number of people located in a particular location...
worldwide has been escalated, ostensibly to lower the probability of similar events occurring again.
Changes in airport security
Before September 11, 2001, airport screening was provided by private companies which were contracted with the airline or airport. In November 2001, the Transportation Security AdministrationTransportation Security Administration
The Transportation Security Administration is an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that exercises authority over the safety and security of the traveling public in the United States....
was introduced to handle screening at all US airports. They installed bulletproof and locked cockpit doors. Argenbright Security
Argenbright Security
Argenbright Security is an Atlanta based subsidiary of Securicor that has operated security at airports across the United States, including Philadelphia International Airport and Chicago's O'Hare International Airport....
, a company that provided security for Newark and Washington Dulles, had problems before in May 2000, because they hired 1,300 untrained security guard
Security guard
A security guard is a person who is paid to protect property, assets, or people. Security guards are usually privately and formally employed personnel...
s, including several dozen with criminal records, for Philadelphia International Airport
Philadelphia International Airport
Philadelphia International Airport is a major airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, and is the largest airport in the Delaware Valley region and in Pennsylvania...
. The company, which was on probation at the time of the attack, had its probation extended to October 2005.
Restricted items
Box-cutter knives were apparently used in the September 11, 2001 attacks, though such knives are not usually considered weaponWeapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
s. The hijackers
Aircraft hijacking
Aircraft hijacking is the unlawful seizure of an aircraft by an individual or a group. In most cases, the pilot is forced to fly according to the orders of the hijackers. Occasionally, however, the hijackers have flown the aircraft themselves, such as the September 11 attacks of 2001...
were able to carry these type of knives past airport security
Airport security
Airport security refers to the techniques and methods used in protecting airports and aircraft from crime.Large numbers of people pass through airports. This presents potential targets for terrorism and other forms of crime due to the number of people located in a particular location...
because at the time, they fit the qualifications to be permitted on U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
domestic flights: any knife with a blade up to 4 inches (101.6 mm) long was permitted. Box cutters qualified as "menacing" weapons under Hazardous Materials guidelines, but were also considered "trade tools" by some airlines. The dual status of these blades caused much confusion for screeners. FAA
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
rules placed into effect on September 13, 2001 prohibit any type of knife in secured airport areas and on airplanes. Beginning in 2006, passengers may not carry liquids, gels and aerosols in quantities greater than 3 ounces past security screening, and all bottles must be placed in a clear plastic bag and sent through screening separately.
Improved security on aircraft
CockpitCockpit
A cockpit or flight deck is the area, usually near the front of an aircraft, from which a pilot controls the aircraft. Most modern cockpits are enclosed, except on some small aircraft, and cockpits on large airliners are also physically separated from the cabin...
doors on many aircraft are now strengthened and bulletproof
Bulletproof
Bulletproofing is the process of making something capable of stopping a bullet or similar high velocity projectiles e.g. shrapnel. The term bullet resistance is often preferred because few, if any, practical materials provide complete protection against all types of bullets, or multiple hits in the...
to prevent unauthorized access. Unlike in previous years, passengers are generally prohibited from entering the cockpit during flight. Some aircraft are equipped with CCTV cameras, so the pilots can monitor the cabin activity. Pilots also have an option to carry a gun
Gun
A gun is a muzzle or breech-loaded projectile-firing weapon. There are various definitions depending on the nation and branch of service. A "gun" may be distinguished from other firearms in being a crew-served weapon such as a howitzer or mortar, as opposed to a small arm like a rifle or pistol,...
, but must be trained to use it. More air marshals
Federal Air Marshal Service
The Federal Air Marshal Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency under the supervision of the Transportation Security Administration of the United States Department of Homeland Security...
have been placed onto flights to improve security. Since 2006, passengers cannot carry liquids past security screening checkpoints or onto aircraft, including drinks; all drinks brought onto aircraft must be purchased in the airport after a passenger has gone past security screening.
Improved security screening
The airport checkpoint screening has been significantly tightened since 2001. Many passengers are patted-down and thoroughly checked with a hand-held metal detector. The security personnel are also better trained to perform searches. On September 11, hijackers Khalid al-MihdharKhalid al-Mihdhar
Khalid Muhammad Abdallah al-Mihdhar was one of five hijackers of American Airlines Flight 77, which was flown into the Pentagon as part of the September 11 attacks....
, Majed Moqed
Majed Moqed
A former law student, Majed Mashaan Ghanem Moqed was one of five hijackers of American Airlines Flight 77 as part of the September 11 attacks....
, Nawaf al-Hazmi
Nawaf al-Hazmi
Nawaf Muhammed Salim al-Hazmi was one of five hijackers of American Airlines Flight 77, which was crashed into the Pentagon as part of the September 11 attacks....
and Salem al-Hazmi
Salem al-Hazmi
Salem al-Hazmi was one of five hijackers of American Airlines Flight 77 as part of the September 11 attacks.A Saudi, Hazmi had a relatively long history with al-Qaeda before being selected for the attacks...
all set off the metal detector alarm. Despite being checked with a hand-held detector, the screener failed to find the items that caused the alarm. They then all boarded the aircraft.
Identification checks
On September 11, some hijackers lacked proper ID, yet they were able to board. All passengers generally must now have valid identification, issued by the government in order to fly, although the ID is only visually checked for validity and the name and details are not validated. Airports may check the ID of any passenger at any time to ensure that the details on the ID match those on the printed boarding pass. Under exceptional circumstances, an individual may fly without a valid ID. If approved for flying without an ID, the individual will be subject to extra screening of their person and their carry-on items. TSA does not have the capability to conduct background checkBackground check
A background check or background investigation is the process of looking up and compiling criminal records, commercial records and financial records of an individual....
s on passengers at checkpoints. Sensitive areas in airports, including airport ramps and operational spaces, are restricted from the general public. Called a SIDA (Security Identification Display Area
Security identification display area
Security Identification Display Area, or SIDA, is a special security area designated by an airport operator in the US to comply with Federal Aviation Administration requirements directed by Federal Aviation Regulation part . An identification system must be used in this area...
) in the US, these spaces require special qualifications to enter.
Criticism of new airport security policies
Many security experts have criticized new airport security policies. Bruce SchneierBruce Schneier
Bruce Schneier is an American cryptographer, computer security specialist, and writer. He is the author of several books on general security topics, computer security and cryptography, and is the founder and chief technology officer of BT Managed Security Solutions, formerly Counterpane Internet...
believes that the attackers were successful not because of any particular security screening failure, but because using box cutters to hijack planes and then flying them into buildings had never been seriously considered before as an attack vector. A similar attack attempted today would surely meet with more resistance, as passengers are now fully aware of the potential .
Another common criticism is that any terrorist prevented from carrying a knife onto an airplane could easily improvise a weapon by, for example, smashing a glass bottle - or just attack with his or her bare hands .
Evidence of this can be seen in the events of September 11, 2001 itself, as the passengers on the fourth plane resisted the hijackers once their friends and family called in to report what had happened with the previous three planes. The only difference between this plane and the others was public awareness . Before September 11, curtains were used to partition the first class cabin from the main cabin . Since the hijackers were all in first class, the main cabin was mostly unaware of what was going on until it was too late. Since then, most airlines have eliminated the curtains, as they pose a security risk and had little other purpose than to symbolically divide the cabins.
Shortly after the destruction of the World Trade Center on September 11, a law was passed that banned visitors from passing the security checkout point , where they used to go to the terminals to say goodbye to their friends or wait for their friends to come . Non-passengers accompanying a minor, an elderly person, a person with special needs, or military personnel are exempt . However, they must obtain a gate pass before being allowed to pass through the security checkpoint . This law is still in effect today .
Lawsuit
In 2003 John Gilmore sued United AirlinesUnited Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
, Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines Co. is an American low-cost airline based in Dallas, Texas. Southwest is the largest airline in the United States, based upon domestic passengers carried,...
and U.S. Attorney General
United States Attorney General
The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government...
John Ashcroft
John Ashcroft
John David Ashcroft is a United States politician who served as the 79th United States Attorney General, from 2001 until 2005, appointed by President George W. Bush. Ashcroft previously served as the 50th Governor of Missouri and a U.S...
, arguing that requiring passengers to show identification before boarding domestic flights is tantamount to an internal passport
Internal passport
An internal passport is an identity document used in some countries to control the internal movement and residence of its people. Countries that currently have internal passports include Russia, Ukraine, China and North Korea...
, and is unconstitutional. Gilmore initially lost the case, known as Gilmore v. Gonzales
Gilmore v. Gonzales
Gilmore v. Gonzales, , was a lawsuit filed by John Gilmore against various United States executive and independent agencies and departments, and United Airlines...
, and an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was denied.
See also
- Airport securityAirport securityAirport security refers to the techniques and methods used in protecting airports and aircraft from crime.Large numbers of people pass through airports. This presents potential targets for terrorism and other forms of crime due to the number of people located in a particular location...
- Airline securityAirline securityAirline security refers to the procedures and infrastructure designed to avoid security problems aboard aircraft. A related area is airport security. Security for air travel is primarily based in airports...
- 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot security reaction2006 transatlantic aircraft plot security reactionThis article details the security reaction to the 2006 alleged transatlantic aircraft plot.-United Kingdom:Following the raids, the terror alert level was raised by Britain's Joint Terrorist Analysis Centre from 'severe' to 'critical', signalling an attack was believed to be imminent, although this...
- Canadian Air Transport Security AuthorityCanadian Air Transport Security AuthorityThe Canadian Air Transport Security Authority is a Canadian Crown corporation responsible for the security screening at the 89 designated airports in Canada...
- Airport racial profiling in the United StatesAirport racial profiling in the United StatesAirport racial profiling in the United States, as the term has been referred to in recent public debates, refers to government activity directed at a suspect or group of suspects because of their race or ethnicity...