Security on Commercial Flights Describe Two (2)

Security on Commercial Flights

Describe two (2) lapses in pre-flight security that contributed to the ease of the hijacking operation on September 11, 2001

Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States of America evaluated the security of the commercial Airline Industry. Major security lapses gave way for terrorists to board commercial flights, which finally led to the aircrafts' hijacking and demise.

The first lapse that contributed to terrorist attack is President Bill Clinton's ignorance. U.S. administration under the leadership of President Bill Clinton ignored warning signs that Osama bin Laden and al Qaida organization was planning a terrorist attack on United States. Osama Bin Laden claimed responsibility of various attacks on U.S. Militaries deployed in various countries, such as Sudan and Soviet Union aimed at fighting the rising terrorist groups (Oliver, 2006).

The failure of the Intelligence Community is another lapse that contributed to the attack. Security officials allowed the terrorists to pass the checkpoints without recognizing them. It disheartens that even the metal detectors failed to detect any metal detectors carried by the terrorist, yet the security officials were too ignorant to note that. The intelligence community failed to provide national leaders and the public with adequate information about the known terrorist groups. In order to be alert and prepare for the foreseeable threats of terrorism, intelligence community must offer information that threatens national security to the relevant authorities (Oliver, 2006).

The second lapse that contributed to the attacks was lack of closed-circuit television surveillance. When Saeed al Ghamdi, Ahmed al Nami, Ahmad al Haznawi, and Ziad Jarrah checked in at the United Airlines ticket counter for Flight 93, going to Los Angeles, the security checked only two of their bags and forgot about the other two bags. The Computer Assisted Passenger Prescreening System identified Haznai, checked his bag, screened for explosives, and then loaded on the plane, and the security checkpoint allowed them to pass through. Similar to checkpoints in Boston, the checkpoint lacked closed-circuit television surveillance; therefore, there is no documentary evidence to show the times the hijackers passed through the checkpoint, alarms triggered, or the security procedures administered (Oliver, 2006).

Question 2: What steps have been taken or should be taken to address these lapses?

In reacting to these lapses in the nation's security, the United States Congress passed House Resolution 5005, The Homeland Security Act of 2002. Included in the number of initiatives set forth in this act was a program allowing pilots to carry firearms while in the cockpit following their certification as Federal flight deck officers. However, Pilots carrying guns in the cockpit pose create other problems. Firearms that have lead-core bullets have the capability of causing destruction to an aircraft's systems and structure. Furthermore, firearms may fall under terrorist control because they are not bound to a single person. However, if the pilots were armed with guns, perhaps they could control the situation when the terrorist found their way into the cockpit (Oliver, 2006).

Today, there is great improvement in security check system. Air travelers experience a thorough check, are patted down and X-rayed, their bags "sniffed" by machines for bombs, their past trips reserved in databases that indicate suspicious patterns. In addition, there is an improvement in metal detecting system. Air travelers stand before the metal detectors for full-body scan. Others pass through improved pat-downs that entail contact with breasts and genitals. Those subjected to terrorism history are selected for additional attention, their carry-on bags searched by hand. In addition, there are fighter pilots at military bases across the nation on a regular basis that patrols over the United States. U.S. has also reworked the command structure has been reworked to enhance communication network and, in theory, more appropriate authorization to shoot down a hijacked plane (Oliver, 2006).