After 9/11

Responsibility for the attacks was lev­eled at al-Qaeda, a secretive Islamist ter­rorist organization led by Osama bin Laden. U. S. President George W. Bush announced a “war on terror,” and U. S. warplanes were ordered to shoot down any hijacked airliner that might pose a danger. No-fly zones were enforced.

Some of the 9/11 terrorists had been living in the United States and had even taken flying lessons there. The 9/11 attacks led to a review of the nation’s security. Stricter antihijacking regula­tions were introduced to prevent explo­sives or weapons from being taken onto airplanes. Air marshals disguised as pas­sengers traveled on flights, ready to dis­arm potential skyjackers. Within a few weeks, President Bush had signed a new law, the Anti-Terrorism Act, giving the U. S. government increased powers.

Other suicide attacks were foiled. Later in 2001, for example, law enforce­ment agents seized al-Qaeda terrorist

Richard Reid (a British citizen), who had been planning to blow up a U. S. airliner with a bomb hidden in his shoe.

Today, passenger and baggage screening systems are provided by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), part of the Department of Homeland Security. Under new secure flight arrangements, airlines and securi­ty services exchange information to identify all persons buying airline tick­ets, checking identities against those of known terrorists. Counterterrorist intelli­gence in the United States is spearhead­ed by the National Counterterrorism Center, which took over the State Department’s responsibility in that area.

SEE ALSO:

• Airport • Pilot