Airports on "High Alert," Yet a Stun Gun Found on Plane
Since the death of Osama bin Laden, airports have been on high alert. And the latest threat disclosed a week ago--that terrorists are planning on equipping a small army of suicide bombers wearing surgically inserted explosive devices--helped ratchet up the degree of fear and security at the nation's airports.
Many experts say that current technology -- even the latest state-of-the-art body scanning machines -- would not be able to detect these so-called "belly bombs." Airports around the world, most of which are still using the more traditional magnetometers, are also incapable of detecting these bombs.
Meanwhile, authorities acknowledged Monday that a stun gun -- inside a case that resembled a cell phone -- made it past security onto a JetBlue flight. The weapon was only discovered on Friday when cleaning crews found it in a seat-back pocket after the plane landed in Newark from Boston. Authorities still aren't sure how it got there.
Although there is no evidence the weapon was used on the aircraft, this latest incident only highlights the question of how vigilant and effective our current security measures are.
What Does "High Alert" Really Mean?
The fact is, TSA hasn't changed security inspection protocols. In fact, next to nothing has changed in airport security protocol since the airlines and TSA supposedly went on high alert.
Flight attendants on some airlines have told me they are already being briefed to pay particular attention to women heading for the lavatories wearing excessive amounts of clothing or carrying a bag into the bathroom. But, airlines should seriously consider time limitations on lavatories in the air. The real concern is that the body bomber would then go into the bathroom in flight, take out the syringe and then inject the detonating fluid into their abdomen, breast or buttocks. What's particularly concerning is that just 8 ounces of PETN could be sufficient to blow a hole in an airplane cabin,cause rapid decompression and loss of control.
But even that kind of vigilance may not be enough to save us. The front line has to be at the airport checkpoints, not on the plane. Until the TSA trains more of its agents at the checkpoints to be better behaviorists -- and conversationalists -- passengers also need to be more aware of the passengers around us. If it's a hot July day and you see a passenger wearing two overcoats, a sweater and gloves and he didn't check any bags, notify someone. Conversely, if it's the dead of winter, and a male or female passenger is going through the checkpoint wearing just a T-shirt and carrying a small backpack, that should also set off some initial alarms.
The real bottom line is that there is no security system that can guarantee 100 percent safety when confronted with a dedicated terrorist who is committed to die in the process of their act. But in important and relative terms, it's demonstrably better for that terrorist to be stopped on the ground than any attempt to stop him/her in the air. Once the plane takes off -- air marshal on board or not -- the odds are against you if a dedicated terrorist wants to attack.
Related:
TSA's Biggest Security Lapse? No Common Sense
Lessons for the U.S. from the World Travel & Tourism Council
TSA's Latest Security Troubles: Bogus Boarding Pass and More
Photo Credit: Flickr user robby-T
