September 11th, 2001, marks the day that the most tragic and unforgettable terrorist attack occured in America. Until the horrific events took place on this day, the United States had limited experience with terrorist attacks on American soil. Before September 11th, 2001, airport security was much more lenient. Because of this, the United States Homeland Security was unable to detect things such as weapons that the terrorists used for their attempts to hijack planes. Also, the behavior patterns of the terrorists were not identified by security representatives. Even once the attackers had been identified, authorities were too late to detain or incapacitate them.
Former to the day of terrorist attacks, airport security rules and regulations were simple. The time spent going through airport security screening was quick and easy to manage. The Federal Aviation Administration allowed passengers to travel with blades up to four inches long aboard planes. The Federal Aviation Administration also permitted passengers on board with baseball bats, box cutters, darts, knitting needles, and scissors (“Boxcutters Weren’t Allowed,” 2002). Many reports following the attack state that these items were not considered as weapons, and they are hard to uncover without doing proper checks through a much stronger metal detector.
It is argued that the hijackings of the planes could have been avoided. Prior to the attacks, aviation security was heavily focussed on searching for weapons such as guns and explosives. No one knew that they should have been on the lookout for much larger weapons, dangerous terrorists. Los Angeles Times writes about how the hijackers did not experience any bumps in the road on their way to carry out their plans. “At almost every step along the way, the system posed no challenge to the terrorists–not to their ability to purchase tickets, to pass security checkpoints while carrying knives and cutting implements nor to board aircraft” (“How Did Hijackers,” 2001). The terrorists did not cause any commotion while making their way through the airport. The Government typically assumes that when an aircraft is hijacked, it is because the hijackers is using that aircraft as “bargaining chip, whether for political purposes or to reach an unscheduled destination” (“How Did Hijackers,” 2001). Unfortunately, that was not the case in this scenario. The planes were used to carry out an act of suicide and destruction.
In relation to items that were permitted on planes before the attacks, The CNN Washington Bureau states that the hijackers of the 9/11 attacks may have had knives that can do much more damage than a boxcutter (“9/11 Panel: Hijackers,” 2004). The aviation screening of the 19 hijackers was not as thoroughly carried out as it should have been. In an article by New York Post, an airport worker involved with allowing two hijackers onto the plane spoke about what had happened. “Terrorist brothers Salem and Nawaf Alhazmi came running in the front door looking around and didn’t know which way to go and were about to miss their flight” (“Airport Worker Haunted,” 2016). Vaughn Allex stepped in to help get them checked in and onto the doomed plane. The plane that these two men boarded by the accompany of Dulles airport worker was soon later hijacked, and crashed into the Pentagon, resulting in 189 casualties.
The Transportation Security Administration became responsible for the attacks. Although at the time security measures were unable to detect the hazardous weapons and the nineteen Al-Qaeda terrorists, many suffered greatly from the horrific events that were carried through. Many people lost their lives in the World Trade Center, at the Pentagon, on the plane which crashed into a field. Along with the deaths of those involved directly, many authority figures suffered as well. Firefighters, police officers, and port officers have been included in the total number of lives taken from this day of events.
In 2017, CNN published an article that includes the total count of deaths due to the act of terrorism on 9/11. “At the World Trade Center (WTC) site in Lower Manhattan, two thousand seven hundred and fifty-three people were killed when hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 were intentionally crashed. Of those who perished during the initial attacks and the subsequent collapses of the towers, three-hundred and three were New York City firefighters, twenty-three were New York City police officers and thirty-seven were officers at the Port Authority. The victims ranged in age from two to eighteen years. Approximately seventy-five to eighty percent of the victims were men.At the Pentagon in Washington, one hundred and eighty four people were killed when hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the building. Near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, forty passengers and crew members aboard United Airlines Flight ninety-three died when the plane crashed into a field. It is believed that the hijackers crashed the plane in that location, rather than their unknown target, after the passengers and crew attempted to retake control of the flight deck. As of August 2017, one thousand six hundred and forty-one, or sixty percent of two thousand seven hundred and fifty three World Trade Center victims’ remains have been positively identified, according to the medical examiner's office” (“September 11th,” 2017).
The list continues. Many people have passed away after the attacks due to illness. About one thousand people have died due to a health crisis related to their exposure to debris that had been spread from the contaminations of the collapsed buildings in New York City. Over thirty-seven thousand have been diagnosed with sickness because of this as well. It is predicted that in the near future, the deaths caused by World Trade Center-related illnesses will override the number of deaths caused by the initial incidents. Illnesses and diseases such as Lung Disease have taken up to ten years off one’s typical life span.
Thousand of lives could have been saved if the attacks lead by Osama Bin Laden were detected, and put to rest. The assailants were Islamic terrorists from Saudi Arabia and a few other Arab countries. Supposedly financed by the Al-Qaeda terrorist association of Saudi criminal Osama Bin Laden, they were professedly acting in countering for America's help of Israel, its inclusion in the Persian Gulf War and its proceeded with military presence in the Middle East (Engel, 2016). A few of the terrorists had lived in the United States for over a year, spending their time taking flying lessons at American business flight schools. Others had slipped into the nation in the months prior to September. These few served as the "muscle" in the operation. The nineteen terrorists effectively carried box-cutters and knives through security at three East Coast airplane terminals and loaded up four early morning flights headed for California, picked on the grounds that the planes were loaded with fuel for the long cross-country travel. Not long after departure, the terrorists seized the four planes and took the controls, turning airplanes into guided rockets (Engel, 2016).
On September 11, 2001, at 8:45 a.m. on a Tuesday morning, an American Airlines Boeing 767 stacked with twenty thousand gallons of fly fuel collided with the North tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. The impact left a vast, burning hole close to the 80th floor of the one hundred and ten story tower, in a split second killing several individuals and catching hundreds more in higher floors (Engel, 2016). As the evacuation of the tower and its twin got in progress, television cameras communicated live pictures of what at first gave off an impression of being a freak accident. At that point, eighteen minutes after the first plane hit, Boeing 767 United Airlines Flight 175, showed up out of the sky. It then immediately turned toward the World Trade Center and cut into the South tower close to the sixtieth floor (Engel, 2016). The impact caused a gigantic blast that showered burning debris over nearby buildings and onto the roads underneath. Downtown New York City was in devastation. It promptly turned out to be evident that America was under attack (Engel, 2016).
As millions viewed the horrific event unfolding in New York, American Airlines Flight 77 hovered over downtown Washington, D.C., before colliding with the west side of the Pentagon military base camp at 9:45 a.m (History, 2011). Jet fuel from the Boeing 757 caused a staggering fire that prompted the structural fall of a huge solid building, which is the central command of the U.S. Division of Defense (History, 2011).
Under fifteen minutes after the terrorists struck the central nerve of the U.S. military, the horror in New York took a disastrous turn when the South tower of the World Trade Center fallen in a huge dust storm and smoke (History, 2011). The basic steel of the skyscraper, worked to withstand winds more than two hundred miles per hour and a huge fire, couldn't withstand the enormous heat created by the burning jet fuel. At 10:30 a.m., the North building of the twin towers fall to the ground. The low number of six individuals in the World Trade Center towers at the time of their collapse survived. Right around 10,000 others were dealt with for injuries, numerous extremely injured (History, 2011).
Today, air terminal security is a tedious procedure, however a large portion of us have become accustomed to it. The greatest change occurred a long time after 9/11, with the making of the Transportation Security Administration or better known as TSA. This has been created to help watch United States airports. According to Peterson (2016), nine major changes have been made. The first is one’s identification requirements needed for travel. Each individual must have their government issued identification card with their full name and state state photo identification. The information on your ID must match the information printed on your boarding pass.
Passengers passing through security must remove their shoes at security checkpoints. There have been many attempts to bomb planes using explosives that have been snuck through security in one’s shoes. New York Times published an article that explains how doctors aboard a plane used the medical kit to sedate Richard Reid, who was trying to ignite explosives hidden and smuggled on board in his shoes (“Crew Grabs Man,” 2001). Traveling to and from destinations require luggage. Passengers back baggages with their belongings, such as clothing, electronics, shoes, personal care items, and more. All baggage whether carry-on or not must be checked through by aviation security for any items not permitted. August 2006, TSA banned all liquids in carry-on bags after terrorists tried to detonate liquid explosives on over 10 flights. USA Today explains the 3-1-1 Rule for air travel. This rule limits the amount of liquids acceptable to be brought aboard a plane in a carry-on baggage. The rule states that passengers may bring containers of liquids up to 3.4 oz. (“Explain 3-1-1 Rule”). Flyers are allowed to bring as many 3.4-oz. liquid containers as they want, as long as they fit inside the 1 qt. sized transparent plastic bag placed separately from the original travel bag.
Along with removing liquids from your carry-on bag, and placing them in a separate bin for screening, all electronics must be placed separately as well. Items such as laptop computers, IPads, Kindles, and other larger sized tablets must go through aviation screening in their own bin for easy viewing. Travelers must remove outerwear during screening. This is so that security is able to ensure that no items are being withheld on a person while passing through metal detectors. Jackets must come off, and any belongings in one’s pockets must be placed in a bin. Enhanced pat-downs are occasionally administered for passengers who may set off the metal detector. This could be from surgically-implanted metal pieces, such as knee or hip replacements.
Before 9/11, many families and loved ones would get a “gate pass” for members who would like to accompany one to their flight gate. A gate pass is mostly used to accompany a companion or a minor. Now, this is no longer given out. An aviation security administrator or representative will take the role of joining one on their journey to their flight gate. This is also referred to as the “No Welcome Committee.” CBS News wrote “Before the Sept. 11, 2001, hijackings, cockpit doors were designed to provide a quiet office environment for pilots. After the attacks, Congress decided cockpit doors should be designed to protect pilots from attackers. Pilots are to focus on flying, no matter what happens in the cabin” (“Bulletproof Cockpit Doors,” 2003). Months following the attacks on 9/11, aviation security focussed on making cockpit doors with metal bars to enhance security.
Since 9/11, pilots remained secure behind secure doors for the duration of the flight, with special cases for restroom breaks. Flight attendants are prepared to ensure the cockpit are closed during those interims. The second step was to beef the air marshal workforce, which had dwindled to a little number of gatekeepers, less than one hundred by 2001. That The program has supposedly been tormented by low resolve and high steady loss, in spite of the fact that the subtle elements of exactly what number of are utilized in this activity are grouped. It is evaluated to be more than five thousand. Pilots, in any case, have gotten a portion of the slack with the "Government Flight Deck Officer" program, which grants them to convey firearms with the proper training (Peterson, 2016).
Along with changes made to airport screening, federalizing and professionalizing the workforce is prioritized. On 9/11, there were less than twenty-thousand airport screeners, a significant number of them ineffectively prepared, the lowest pay permitted by law contract workers who were employed by the aircrafts. Quickly, they moved toward becoming substitutes for the assaults, and for the clear simplicity with which the criminals could load up planes with box-cutters. One of the primary reactions from the government was to kick the carriers off the security beat, and to put the government in control, which gave us the TSA (Peterson,2016).
“In 2014, the TSA performed 7,234 hours of random employee screening” (“Another Security Gap,” 2015). CNN spent time in 2015 to investigate more on the fact that at that time, airport security was able to board aircrafts without having to go through screening security. It was soon later discovered that after someone is hired to attain the job of an aviation official, no further background checks regarding criminal records are carried out. An incident in Atlanta occurred where a Delta baggage handler smuggled a gun into the airport. He then passed the gun to a passenger who had already gone through airport screening. After this situation, airports began authorizing a more thorough background check on employees to guarantee a much safer environment for everyone in an airport. “Hatfield cited a 2008 study by the Homeland Security Institute that concluded random screening of airport employees proved nearly as effective as 100% screening” (“Another Security Gap,” 2015).
National Geographic News has taken note of six major technological advances made since the hijackings on 9/11 that have been made to prevent future attacks. The first is remote-controlled airliners. Boeing has created a way to remotely control an aircraft. It is said that this “could have prevented the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon that killed nearly 3,000 people” (“Six Tech Advances,” 2001). The second advancement is bio-monitors. This has been made to allow security to test passengers’ hands and luggage for explosive residue. Also, imaging scanners allow security to see if passengers are concealing weapons under their clothing.
Remote video monitoring is the third advancement. The development of onboard surveillance systems. This includes sensors and cameras in the main cabin to analyze passengers’ movements, facial expressions, and suspicious behavior. Light guns are the fourth advancement that has been made to enable aircraft crew to blind an attacker with a beam of light. This will be enough to disable the attacker without endangering any of the other passengers. Super strong body fabric, also known as armor, is the fifth advancement. Marshals and flight crew may begin wearing “thin but super strong fabric by bonding 300 alternating layers of clay and polymer” (“Six Tech Advances,” 2001). The sixth and final advancement are missile disruptors. These can be used to shoot down a plane that has been hijacked and rerouted to crash into buildings.
TSA agents pay close attention to the behaviors that may be suspicious. The Washington Post published that “Behavior detection, which is just one element of the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) efforts to mitigate threats against the traveling public, is vital to TSA’s layered approach to deter, detect and disrupt individuals who pose a threat to aviation” (TSA’s Secret List,” 2015). Security keep an extra out out for many things. Six of the behaviors that may alarm officials are exaggerated yawning, gazing down, widely open staring eyes, pale face from recent shaved beard, excessive rubbing of hands, incorrect or inadequate clothing for travel locations (origin and destination).
With all the precautions taken by aviation security from when a passenger walks through the doors of the airport, going through security, and boarding the plane, one must make sure they have adequate time to complete the procedures. “The TSA advises arriving two hours early for domestic flights and three hours early for international flights” (“How Long Will You Wait,” 2016). Passengers must be prepared to follow all the steps of travel security. It begins with waiting on line with your identification card, along with your boarding pass, in hand to show the officer prior to entering the baggage and body screening area. Then, passengers have to remove their jackets, shoes, and everything from their pockets into a bin to go through screening. Liquids, no larger than a 3.4 oz. container, must be placed in a clear plastic bag outside of the travel bag for easy viewing and inspection. All large electronic devices, such as laptop computers, IPads, Kindles, and other large tablets must also be placed in a separate bin for screening.Once all the baggages and belongings are places on the screening belt, passengers move through the full body metal detector. Assuming there are no issues while passing through the detector, and no issues within the luggage going through screening, then the passenger is able to proceed to their flight gate. The duration time of all these steps can last five minutes, to multiple hours depending on the busyness of the airport, and the cooperation of other passengers going through the same process.
As well as technological advancements made to strengthen aviation security, a new breed of security officers have also been added to the team. Police dogs, also known as K-9, work to “detect explosives to keep the airports safe, they find mere traces of bomb ingredients” (“Explosives Detection,” 2001). Specialized police dogs are trained for up to ten weeks to perform multiple duties depending on their job role. The duties K-9 perform include Finding drugs searching for explosives, looking for lost people, and discovering crime scenes. “Not only do they help put an end to any harm that could occur, but they also help prevent from problems happening (“What is a K-9,” 2017). When one is traveling through the airport and sees a police dog, it is considered a threat to them. A police dog is used as a scare tactic to hopefully prevent any threats that are being planned to take place.
A fact that may be unknown to many is the use of K9 police dogs during the aftermath of the attacks on September 11th, 2001. “About 300 dogs contributed to the rescue and long-term recovery effort at Ground Zero” (Rescue Dogs,” 2011). Dogs were brought in after the terroristic events of 9/11. They climbed across ladders on top of enormous mounds of debris, crossed through broken glass shards, large steel beams, wiggled through tight and dark crawl spaces to search for any signs of surviving people. The K9 dogs and handlers had training searching for survivors by exploring through concrete rubble. No training site compared to what was seen at Ground Zero.
K9 training takes ten weeks for the canine to complete vital lessons needed to work as a police dog. Law-enforcement dogs are specialized to guard and prevent any disasters without causing a disruption or misbehaving. Obedience is a key trait needed for this role. The canines must follow orders given by their handlers without hesitation. Passengers traveling in airports and the aviation security workforce hopes that the addition of K9 security will benefit all by providing safety, security, and protection.
People are specially trained to be K9 handlers. The dog and the handler must train and work together to build trust in one another to perform their duties required to provide the safety needed in airports.Many handlers will take the K9 officers into their home as their pet, allowing the dog to build a bond with their handler. They must trust and care for one another. The connection between the two strengthens because of this, and also by the handler grooming and feeding the dog as a method of rewardment.
The breeds of a K9 police dog vary. The most common type of K9 is a German Shepherd. The German Shepherd was the first dog breed to be used and trained for this job, and is also named the number one dog breed used as K9 officers in the world. Other breeds used and trained to be police officer dogs are Belgian Tervueren, Blood Hound, Boxer Dog, Doberman Pinscher, Dutch German Shepherd, German Short-haired Pointer, Giant Schnautzer, Labrador Retriever, and Rottweiler (“What is K-9,” 2017). These dogs all share similar traits, which are, but not limited to, being smart, alert, fast, fearless, and reliable. Dogs are also bred for this job role, and can be bought for prices up to twenty-thousand dollars in the United States.
Since the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001, K9 police force has helped prevent numerous attacks they could have been carried. In 2004, airport security discovered an anonymous note saying that there was a bomb aboard an American Airlines flight to Nashville, Tennessee. The police were immediately contacted. K9 officers were dispatched to search through the plane. Two K9 officers detected a laptop which was tucked underneath a seat aboard the plane. The dogs were able to sniff out the nitrate residue on the laptop case.
K9 teams detected danger in the Dulles International Airport in 2005. An unattended bag left in the airport caught the attention of one out of twelve K9 teams. The dog was able to smell traces of nitrate, which was found on a business card inside the bag. It turned out that the owner of the bag dealt with explosive materials daily. This goes to show how keen a dog’s scent is. Their noses are so powerful, which allows them to detect so many different odors that could be harmful. The dog must be attentive at all times. "If you have a drug dog and he misses a pile of weed, you're probably going to live to tell the story," Vick says. "But if somebody gets by you with a case of explosives and gets on an aircraft, you may not” (Explosives Detection,” 2001). It may be that the dog has a false-alarm, but it is better to be safe than sorry.
“The National Explosives Detection Canine Program provides highly trained canine teams focused on furthering TSA’s mission to secure the nation’s transportation systems” (“Canine Teams,” 2014). Canine programs have been around since dates back to the early 1970s. It was in 2002, the year following the terrorist attacks using planes for destruction, that the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Explosives Detection Canine Team Program was transferred to TSA. Since then, it has continued to expand. Congress has recognized the value of TSA’s National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program through continuous funding which has resulted in the largest explosives detection canine program in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the second largest in the federal government behind the Department of Defense (DoD) (“Canine Teams,” 2014).
Over one hundred United States airports are equipped with canine teams. Along with K9 handlers, or officers, TSA’s Transportation Security Inspectors (TSIs) are also leaders of canine teams. There have been numerous technological advancements to improve aviation security, but it is proven that canine teams are the most effective method of detecting explosive substances, as well as firearms. The 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 instructed the Department of Homeland Security to use a third party explosive detection system for aviation screening. Canines are officer members of the TSA team whose main objective is to protect the traveling population. “TSA has partnered with the National Security Staff Transborder Security Sub- Interagency Policy Committee on Working Dogs to establish a baseline standard for federal, state, local, and private sector explosives detection canine assets to enhance interoperability of standards for explosives detection canine team programs” (“Canine Teams,” 2014).
Although the addition of K9 units have been extremely successful, it still does not eliminate the fact that there are terrorists who plan and carry out attacks. As noted, dogs are not always one hundred percent correct. If a dog misses being able to sniff out and detect someone who may be transporting drugs, such as marijuana, it may not be too detrimental. If a dog is unable to locate a possible bomb, people could be injured, or the explosion may cause people to lose their lives. With so many advancements ranging from dogs as police officers, new metal detectors, remote controlled airplanes, taking your shoes off to go through security, and only allowing 3.4 oz. of liquids aboard a plane, there are still mishaps that do occur.
Statistics show that the number of hijacked planes from the year of the attacks on the Twin Towers, to current day, have decreased immensely. “Dog teams failed 21 times at Los Angeles International, and 10 times at Dulles International Airport outside Washington, D.C., during the same time period. Teams at Chicago’s O’Hare, Reagan National in D.C., JFK in New York, San Diego and Bradley International in Hartford, Connecticut, all failed from one and three times” (“Bomb Dogs,” 2016). The teams that failed were immediately pulled out of the workforce to refrain from the failure of detecting threats while in the field. Failure to provide safety is detrimental to TSA. Their goal is to uphold standards of security and safety of those traveling, and those working as apart of the security team, whether it is a canine, or a human officer.
It is now seventeen years later, and there are still many threats posed to the United States. Many terrorist plots have been made, and some even carried out, since the attacks on 9/11. Although there have been many major advancements with the technology used for aviation security, as well as the addition of K9 units, terrorists do still succeed. There has been at least sixty Islamic terrorist attack plots towards the United States since the year of 2001. Forty-nine out of the total sixty may be considered to be homegrown terrorist plots. The United States needs to continue to work towards protecting citizens from these threats in order to ensure a strong and safe homeland.
In 2017, Esteban Santiago was the killer of five travels in the Fort Lauderdale airport. Santiago smuggled a 9mm handgun in his luggage, and used this weapon to fire at other travelers in the airport. The bag in which the gun was stored in was a checked piece of luggage. The bag was not properly checked and examined. Aviation security missed the opportunity to stop this attack, and to save the lives of many. The shots began in the airport, causing travels passing through to hide and run for their lives. Luckily, most got away. Unfortunately, five did not. This mistake by the aviation security team was detrimental. It took lives of a few, but has an extremely damaging effect on so many others. “Sara Graham, who had been vacationing in Fort Lauderdale, wrote on Instagram that she and her family were about 100 feet away from the shooter” (“Fort Lauderdale,” 2017). The airport was then closed for the remainder of the day. Ten thousand travelers had cancelled or delayed flight departures.
Also in the year of 2017, the regional North Carolina airport experienced the threats of an explosive device. Michael Christopher Estes took the time using materials to build a bomb in which he placed into a bag. He then left the bag by baggage claim in the airport. The bomb was equipped with a timer clock, which was planned to set off at 6 a.m. “Based on a review of the video, the individual walked near the entrance to the terminal, went out of sight momentarily, and was then seen departing the area without the bag” (“North Carolina,” 2018). Authorities within the airport were not notified about a suspicious bag until almost six hours after Estes planted the bomb suitcase. Aviation security should have been more aware of unattended luggage, especially if a bag was sitting alone for nearly six hours. Estes entered the airport wearing black pants, a black sweatshirt, and a black baseball cap. Security needs to be more aware of those whom walk in and out of an airport without passing through security. A way to prevent this could be not allowing passengers to enter the building without proof of a boarding pass.
Aviation devistations are not only limited to those that occur in the United States. Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 shockingly disappeared in 2014 while transporting two hundred and thirty-nine passengers across the Indian Ocean. While flying from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia, to its destination, Beijing Capital International Airport in China, the plane went off the radar. That was the last that anyone was knowledgeable of the location of the plane, and all those aboard. Many researchers, aviation teams, and investigators have been assigned to the missing airplane, as well as the two hundred and thirty-nine passengers. The transponder stopped functioning. A way to avoid a similar incident occurring again is to apply one of the technological advancements, a remote controlled airplane. From the ground, members could have guided the plane to its destination, or a safe landing nearby. Searches have been continuing for years, above ground, as well as underwater. “The government will pay Ocean Infinity $20 million for 1,930 square miles successfully searched, $30 million for 5,790 sq. miles, $50 million for 9,653 sq. miles and $70 million if the plane or recorders are found beyond the identified area” (“Malaysia Airlines,” 2018). Sadly, no one has been able to locate the plane, its crew, or the passengers. This is known to be the greatest airline mystery to date.
Reference Page
Peterson, B. (2016, October 05). How Airport Security Has Changed Since 9/11. Retrieved February 26, 2018, from https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-airport-security-has-changed-since-september-11
9 Ways Airport Security Changed Since 9/11. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2018, from https://www.farecompare.com/travel-advice/9-ways-security-has-changed-since-911/
Engel , P. (n.d.). What happened on 9/11? . Retrieved from http://www.businessinsider.com/what-happened-on-911-why-2016-9
History.com Staff. (2011). 9/11 Timeline. Retrieved February 26, 2018, from http://www.history.com/topics/9-11-timeline
September 11th Hijackers Fast Facts. (2017, August 28). Retrieved February 26, 2018, from https://www.cnn.com/2013/07/27/us/september-11th-hijackers-fast-facts/index.html
History.com Staff. (2010). 9/11 Attacks. Retrieved February 26, 2018, from http://www.history.com/topics/9-11-attacks
Vries, L. (2002, November 12). Boxcutters Weren't Allowed Pre-9/11. Retrieved March 11, 2018, from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/boxcutters-werent-allowed-pre-9-11/
Reported, T. S., & Written by Times staff writers Michael A. Hiltzik. (2001, September 23). How Did Hijackers Get Past Airport Security? Retrieved March 11, 2018, from http://articles.latimes.com/2001/sep/23/news/mn-48940
9/11 panel: Hijackers may have had utility knives. (n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2018, from http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/01/27/911.commis.knife/
Saul, E. (2016, September 12). Airport worker haunted by letting 9/11 hijackers on plane. Retrieved March 11, 2018, from https://nypost.com/2016/09/11/airport-worker-haunted-by-letting-911-hijackers-on-plane/
September 11th Terror Attacks Fast Facts. (2017, August 24). Retrieved March 11, 2018, from https://www.cnn.com/2013/07/27/us/september-11-anniversary-fast-facts/index.html
Taylor, A. (2011, September 08). 9/11: The Day of the Attacks. Retrieved March 11, 2018, from https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2011/09/911-the-day-of-the-attacks/100143/
Kennan, M., & Group, L. (n.d.). Explain 3-1-1 Rule for Air Travel. Retrieved March 12, 2018, from http://traveltips.usatoday.com/explain-3-1-1-rule-air-travel-11207.html
Belluck, P. (2001, December 23). EXPLOSIVE FEARED. Retrieved March 12, 2018, from http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/23/us/crew-grabs-man-explosive-feared.html
“9/11: Six Tech Advances to Prevent Future Attacks.” National Geographic, National Geographic Society, 9 Sept. 2011, news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/09/110907-9-11-september-11-anniversary-science-tech-prevent/
Griffin, D. (2015, February 04). Another security gap at airports: Background checks. Retrieved March 11, 2018, from https://www.cnn.com/2015/02/03/us/airport-security-gaps/index.html
Liptak, A. (2011, September 06). Civil Liberties Today. Retrieved March 11, 2018, from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/07/us/sept-11-reckoning/civil.html
Hicks, J. (2015, March 31). TSA's secret list of suspicious behaviors revealed. Retrieved March 11, 2018, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/federal-eye/wp/2015/03/31/heres-tsas-secretive-list-of-suspicious-behaviors/?utm_term=.e861e4ef4a49
Hetter, K. (2016, June 09). How long will I wait in the TSA line? Retrieved March 11, 2018, from https://www.cnn.com/2016/06/09/travel/tsa-security-line-wait-times-how-long/index.html
Garrett, R. (2011, June). Explosives Detection Goes to the Dogs. Retrieved March 26, 2018, from http://www.airportimprovement.com/article/explosives-detection-goes-dogs
What is a K9 Dog? K9 Dog Breeds, Training & Duties | MEC Security. (2018, March 07). Retrieved March 26, 2018, from https://mecsecurity.com/news/what-is-k9-dog/
Otis, A. (2014, September 11). Rescue dogs of 9/11: The drama's unsung heroes. Retrieved March 26, 2018, from https://nypost.com/2011/09/04/rescue-dogs-of-911-the-dramas-unsung-heroes/
Canine Teams Effectiveness for Securing Transportation Systems. (2016, April 05). Retrieved March 26, 2018, from https://www.tsa.gov/news/testimony/2014/06/24/canine-teams-effectiveness-securing-transportation-systems
Friedman, S. (2016, September 15). Bomb detection dogs failed dozens of tests at 10 large U.S. airports. Retrieved March 26, 2018, from https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/bomb-dogs-failed-dozens-tests-10-large-u-s-airports-n648466
Shoichet, C. E. (2017, January 07). Fort Lauderdale airport: 5 dead, shooting suspect had gun in checked bag. Retrieved March 26, 2018, from https://www.cnn.com/2017/01/06/us/fort-lauderdale-airport-incident/index.html
DeGrave, S. (2018, January 12). N.C. airport bomb suspect, who wanted to 'fight war on U.S. soil,' pleads guilty. Retrieved March 28, 2018, from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/01/12/north-carolina-airport-bomb-suspect-guilty-plea/1028786001/
C. (2018, January 10). Huge stakes in Texas firm's hunt for missing Malaysian Airlines Flight 370. Retrieved March 28, 2018, from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/malaysia-airlines-flight-370-search-70-million-wreckage-ocean-infinity/