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9/11 Attacks
Terrorists flew hijacked passenger planes into New York City's mighty twin towers, destroying the buildings. A third plane strikes the Pentagon, and a fourth crashes in a field in rural Pennsylvania. More than 3,000 people are killed in the terror attacks. -
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9/11
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Knives are Prohibited
Box-cutter knives were used in the September 11, 2001 attacks. The hijackers were allowed to pass security with these weapons because at the time US domestic flights permitted any knife with a blade up to 4 inches (100 mm) long. Federal Aviation Administration rules prohibiting any type of knife in secured airport areas and on airplanes was put into effect on September 13, 2001. -
U.S. Patriot Act
President George W. Bush signs the U.S. Patriot Act to deter and punish terrorist acts in the United States and around the world. -
Transportation Security Administration Formed
The Transportation Security Administration was formed in November, putting officers on patrol for the security of the transportation systems, including airports. -
Shoe Bomber
American Airlines Flight 63 traveling from Paris to Miami was diverted to Boston on December 22, 2001, after passengers and crew saw Richarad Reid trying to light a fuse and subdued him by tying him to his seat. FBI bomb technicians and explosives experts found explosives in Reid's shoes. Impact: Passengers must remove shows when walking through security -
Department of Homeland Securtiy Formed
President Bush signs legislation creating the Department of Homeland Security. The Department consolidates nearly 170,000 workers from 22 agencies, including the Coast Guard, the Secret Service, the federal security guards in airports, and the Customs Service, but not the FBI and CIA. -
Three Years Later - Changes in Security
Changes in Airport Security:- Specific ID required; ID name must match name on ticket
- Shoes must be removed at checkpoints
- All baggage (carryon and checked) must be screened
- No liquids (above 3.4 ounces) allowed through checkpoints
- Special items must be pulled from luggage (laptops)
- Jackets, outwear must be removed
- Body scan machine screening
- Enhanced pat-downs
- No more non-ticketed visitors allowed at airline gates
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4 Years Later - Airport Lines
TSA recommends arriving at the airport two hours before departure and warns passengers to expect delays up to 108 minutes when passing through security. -
Five Years Later - Checking Bags
Before 9/11 only about 10% of bags were electronically screened. Ever since the TSA took over in 2002, almost 90% of the bags are screened. -
Increased Border Security At and Between the Nation's Ports of Entry
CBP Border Patrol agents reduced the number of apprehensions at the borders by more than 8 percent in 2006. As a result of targeted coordinated enforcement efforts, CBP Border Patrol reduced non-Mexican illegal alien apprehensions by 35 percent. CBP Border Patrol also seized more than 1.3 million pounds of marijuana and 11,900 pounds of cocaine between the border ports of entry. -
Liquid Explosives
British authorities arrested and charged 24 men with plotting to blow up as many as 10 trans-Atlantic flights, using explosive liquids that they tried to smuggle aboard the airliners in soda bottles. Impact: Passengers cannot carry more than 3.4 ounces of liquid onto a plane. All liquids must be in plastic containers inside plastic bags. -
TSA Strengthens Air Cargo Security
In the fall of 2006, TSA issued two security orders that required 100 percent of high risk cargo to be inspected. This included packages at the ticket counters. TSA also increased the number of explosives detection canine teams to screen cargo and added 100 air cargo inspectors. -
6 Years Later - TSA Personnel
Since 9/11, the TSA has hired 38% more personnel to handle security procedures. 45% of these new employees were hired to inspect bags while the other 55% were hired to inspect passengers. -
Full Body Scanners Installed
Full body scanners are installed in many U.S. airports. The Millimeter Wave scanner looks like a cylindrical phone booth, with mostly clear glass walls and scanning panels that move around you. The machine emits small radio waves that pass through clothes and returns with images of the body underneath.The Backscatter scanner takes two low-level X-rays of a person within twenty second. If the electromagnetic waves are absorbed, the person is free to go. But if a person is hiding foreign obje -
Underwear Bomber
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, commonly referred to as the "Underwear Bomber," attempted to detonate plastic explosives hidden in his underwear while on board Northwest Airlines Flight 253 leaving Detroit, Michigan on December 25, 2009. Impact: Government spends hundreds of millions of dollars on advanced imaging technology machines that can see through clothing. -
Advanced Imaging Technology Software
TSA introduced Advanced Imaging Technology Software in select airports. Instead of full-body images that caused controversy, the new AIT software that is being installed on millimeter wave machines shows a silhouette of the person being scanned on a screen.
