9/11 Security Measures

The morning of September 11, 2001 changed lives, the beliefs of a country, and the way countless people go about their day for varying reasons. On that day, a few terrorists were able to kill thousands by hijacking aircraft, and for the first time, using them as weapons by killing the flight deck crews and flying the planes into symbols of the United States and the free world. When the terrorist flew the planes into the World Trade Center, they were attacking a symbol of the free world while the aircraft flown into the pentagon attacked a symbol of American military strength. The terrorists had intentions to fly another aircraft into the White House or Capital building, attempting to destroy symbols of freedom before the passengers were

After September eleventh, only passengers holding a valid boarding pass and photo ID can pass through the security checkpoint, where prior to the security changes after September eleventh, anyone could go through to see friends and family off, or just use the shops in the terminal. The security prior to the attacks included a magnetometer that passengers walked through to try and detect metal objects that could be used as weapons and a basic x-ray of baggage that, “transmitted vertical scanning beams, a knife could be concealed by merely laying it on edge” (Simbro 563). Now, after the attacks, to proceed through the security checkpoint passengers must remove their shoes, liquids from luggage and electronic devices such as laptops before the items can go through the more advanced x-ray machines. Then the passengers move to be screened separately of their personal belongings where gone are the basic metal doctors and now full body scanners are present. These devices are designed to create a digital image of a person with their clothes removed in an attempt to find hidden objects such as weapons or explosives. This is done in an attempt to prevent the need for pat downs where a security officer pats a person’s body attempting to find hidden objects. These devices are the source of much controversy

The cockpit door has become heavy modified. While the modifications to the cockpit door vary by aircraft type, airline, and country the aircraft is registered in to prevent a single standard being used across the industry. As a single standard could create a security hazard because would-be hijackers could learn about that one system. A few of the known modifications included reinforcing the cockpit door so it is harder to break through. There is a camera that allows the pilots to see who is attempting to enter the flight deck, the doors are stronger and have electronic locking mechanisms (Castella). There has also been an increase in armed federal agents on-board aircraft. These agents are known as Air Marshals who work undercover disguised as passengers but are able to carry a weapon. Prior to September eleventh, there had been just 33 Air Marshals who only flew during times of heightened threats to the air transportation system. Following the September eleventh attack, in the first month, President Bush order for hundreds of new Air Marshes to be trained and thousands more in the coming months (Biles). Increased training for flight crews to identify threats and at times detain people has also become a standard throughout the industry. However, the biggest change onboard aircraft now has been the change in the actions the flying public takes when something goes wrong. Passengers no often fight back