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2006 transatlantic aircraft plot security reaction

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London Heathrow Airport

This article details the security reaction to the 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot.

Contents

[edit] United Kingdom

Following the raids, the terror alert level was raised by Britain's Joint Terrorist Analysis Centre from 'severe' to 'critical', signalling an attack was believed to be imminent, although this was only done after the raid.<ref name="MSNBC-plot"/> Security at all British airports was raised to the highest level, with all luggage having to go into the aircraft's hold (including books, newspapers, and glasses cases). In the immediate aftermath, no hand luggage (carry-on luggage) was allowed except for a very few essentials such as travel documents and wallets. Passengers travelling with small children were permitted to carry baby food but had to taste it in front of staff.<ref name ="BBC-advice">BBC News. At-a-glance: UK airports. BBC News. Retrieved on August 10, 2006.</ref>

On 14 August 2006 the threat level was reduced from 'Critical' to 'Severe'.<ref>MI5 Threat Level as of August 14 2006, 00:35</ref> An announcement was made that the hand baggage rules would shortly be alleviated to permit carriage of one small item of hand baggage, although the strict ban on liquids remained in place.<ref>Airline security. UK Department of Transport. Retrieved on 2006-08-17.</ref> Hand baggage was reintroduced at some smaller airports on 14 August, but was not permitted at Heathrow and Gatwick Airports until 15 August.

Despite having made it clear in August that the unprecedented security measures were "here to stay", at the end of September, upon pressure from the industry representatives and professional musicians, the British government relaxed the restrictions on size to the aviation industry standard (56cm x 45cm x 25cm) and allowed musical instruments as carry-on luggage. [1][2].

On 6th November 2006 the restrictions were relaxed once again to allow limited amounts of liquids in the cabin. [3]

[edit] United States

Image:Dulles-board-11aug06.jpg

Following the operation, United States Homeland Security banned all liquids and gels except baby formula and prescription medications in the name of the ticket holder in carry-on luggage on all flights.<ref name="CNN-foiled">CNN News. 'Police: Plot to blow up aircraft foiled. CNN News. Retrieved on August 10, 2006.</ref> The DHS level in the United States was raised to 'severe' (red) for all flights from the UK. The terror level for all other domestic or non-British international flights in the United States was raised to High (orange). According to White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, President Bush was aware of the plot by August 6 and approved raising the alert on August 9. <ref>Tony Snow (White House Press Secretary). 'Press Gaggle by Tony Snow. Office of the Press Secretary. Retrieved on August 11, 2006.</ref>

Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney placed National Guard members in Logan International Airport in Boston. He also placed gate checkpoints, in addition to concourse checkpoints.<ref name="Fox-TV">Fox News (U.S. TV)</ref> The heightened security terror level was deemed "unprecedented".<ref name name="CNN-TV"/> According to the press secretary of Homeland Security, security measures have been raised so that they may learn more about the situation, and so that they may avoid any additional terror plots. <ref name name="CNN-TV"/> In addition, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger also activated his state's National Guard force to bolster security at California airports.<ref name name="CNN-TV"/>

[edit] Other countries

[edit] Hand luggage restrictions

[edit] United Kingdom

Passengers travelling from<ref>ThinkSpain. Delays and cancellations on UK flights after terror alert. ThinkSpain. Retrieved on August 10, 2006. </ref> and through all other UK airports were temporarily only permitted to carry-on those items on a restricted list, and these items had to be carried in transparent plastic bags. No liquids could be carried on board.<ref>CNN. BAA outlines new security measures. CNN News. Retrieved on August 10, 2006.</ref><ref>UK Department for Transport. Airline security. UK Department for Transport. Retrieved on August 10, 2006. </ref> Liquid medications, such as insulin for diabetics, were banned, "unless verified as authentic." All laptops, mobile phones, digital audio players and other electronic items were also banned.<ref name="DFP">Detroit Free Press. Main suspects in massive plane-bombing plot arrested. Detroit Free Press. Retrieved on August 10, 2006.</ref>

At the time of the initial ban, allowed items were limited to:

On flights to the U.S., all other items were banned entirely. Passengers travelling elsewhere, after being restricted to the list above while passing through security checkpoints, were permitted to buy other items from airside shops.

It was suggested in The Times that the restrictions on hand baggage would be "enforced pending a decision from the National Aviation Security Committee following which they may be made permanent." <ref>"The Times, Friday August 11 2006, p11". Retrieved on 2006-08-11.</ref> This was confirmed by sources close to Douglas Alexander, the Secretary of State for Transport, on BBC News<ref>[4]</ref>. Travel agencies raised concerns that maintaining such severe restrictions would greatly decrease interest in air transportation, especially among business class customers. [citation needed]

On 14 August 2006, an announcement was made that the restrictions on hand baggage for flights originating in the UK would shortly be liberalised to permit carriage of one small (45 cm x 35 cm x 16 cm) piece of hand baggage per person. Whilst electronics, books, and other dry items were again permitted on flights leaving the UK, all liquids remained banned in hand luggage. [5] The Department for Transport defines "liquids" to include gels, pastes, lotions, liquid/solid mixtures and the contents of pressurised containers, e.g. toothpaste, hair gel, drinks, soups, syrups, perfume, deodorant, shaving foam, aerosols, etc. Passengers may buy these items after passing through security checks, but would only be allowed to carry them onboard flights to places other than the U.S.

[edit] United States

Similar emergency restrictions were placed on airline passengers travelling within and from the United States. Currently, all liquids are forbidden, including beverages, hair gels, toothpaste, lipstick, sunscreen, and hand lotions, due to the suspicion that liquid chemicals were planned to be used in the attacks.<ref name ="CNN-foiled"/> Since passengers may purchase beverages after passing regular airport checkpoints, gate checkpoints have been implemented at many airports, such as Boston's Logan International Airport.<ref name="Fox-TV"/> Electronic devices (iPods, laptops, etc.) are still allowed for domestic flights.<ref>Detroit Free Press. Electronics permitted onboard for US travel. Detroit Free Press. Retrieved on August 10, 2006.</ref>

As of 13 August 2006, airline passengers in the United States can now take up to four ounces of non-prescription medicine, glucose gel for diabetics, solid lipstick, and baby food aboard flights. All aerosols are prohibited.[citation needed]

On August 16, the TSA announced that for flights leaving or coming into the U.S., Duty Free items, including beverages, are permitted if delivered directly from the Duty Free shop onto the aircraft.<ref>TheMoodieReport. Fixme. TheMoodieReport. Retrieved on August 29, 2006.</ref>

As of 26 September 2006, the Transportation Security Administration adjusted the ban on liquids, aerosols and gels. Travelers may now carry through security checkpoints travel-size toiletries (3 ounces or less) that fit comfortably in one quart-size clear plastic zip-top bag. After clearing security, travelers can now bring beverages and other items purchased in the secure boarding area on-board aircraft.<ref>Transportation Security Administration. Permitted and Prohibited Items. Transportation Security Administration. Retrieved on September 27, 2006.</ref>

[edit] European Union

On October 10, 2006 a European Commission Regulation placed restrictions to carry liquid materials in hand luggage across the EU. <ref>Commission Regulation (EC) No 1546/2006 of 4 October 2006 amending Regulation (EC) No 622/2003 laying down measures for the implementation of the common basic standards on aviation security Text with EEA relevance</ref>

[edit] Impact

Overall, an estimated 400,000 passengers were affected because of the alerts. It has been estimated that the first day of delays cost the airlines over £175 million. [citation needed]

As many as 20,000 bags are believed to have been misplaced at Heathrow. <ref> BBC News UK. BA back to normal in 48 hours. BBC News UK. Retrieved on August 22, 2006.</ref>.

[edit] Flight cancellations on the 10th August

Some inbound flights to London Heathrow Airport were cancelled on the day of the arrests, most notably the Thursday short-haul flights of British Airways. Some flights to and from London Gatwick Airport were also suspended <ref>BBC News UK. Travel chaos grips UK's airports. BBC News UK. Retrieved on August 10, 2006.</ref>, although US Airways flights continued flying normally from Gatwick according to the airline's helpline.

[edit] Service resumption

Image:IMG 2558 Tents exterior Heathrow 14 august 2006.JPG

A few hours after the beginning of the confusion, aircraft began to fly out of London Heathrow, although not at the usual level of more than one per minute. Flights included planes going to New York, Toronto, Chicago, and San Francisco.<ref name name="CNN-TV"/> The situation remained chaotic with huge queues of passengers waiting to check-in and get through the strengthened security procedures, and reports of some aircraft leaving Heathrow airport with only transit passengers aboard. Tents were erected at Heathrow for the large numbers of waiting passengers.

On Sunday 13 August 30% of flights out of Heathrow were cancelled to reduce pressure on the screeners. <ref>Nick Mathiason, Oliver Morgan and Rob Sharp. BA criticises Heathrow as travel mayhem grows. The Observer. Retrieved on August 13, 2006.</ref>. By 15 August flight cancellations had fallen to 47 flights at Heathrow, and 8 Ryanair flights from Stansted. It was anticipated that cancellations would reduce on 16 August, with 90% of flights expected to depart as scheduled. <ref>BBC. Bags misplaced at Airports. BBC News Online. Retrieved on August 15, 2006.</ref>

[edit] Controversy over the alert

On 12 August a public argument broke out between BAA, the operator of Heathrow and other airports, and British Airways, with Willie Walsh, BA's Chief Executive, accusing BAA of not being able to cope with the increased security and baggage checks. Ryanair also called on the British government to employ police and military reservists to speed up the full body searches which were now mandated, with Chief Executive Michael O'Leary saying that:

   
2006 transatlantic aircraft plot security reaction
 Ryanair and other major UK airlines cannot keep cancelling flights and disrupting the travel plans of tens of thousands of British passengers and visitors solely because the BAA cannot cope with the new body search requirements. If the British government is serious about defeating terrorism and/or not allowing the terrorists to disrupt normal everyday British life, then it must provide the additional security staffing, either police or army reserve personnel, immediately to prevent London's main airports from grinding to a halt over the coming days.
   
2006 transatlantic aircraft plot security reaction

On 18 August Ryanair's O'Leary delivered an ultimatum to the British government demanding the resumption of normal hand baggage dimensions and hand screening one passenger in four instead of one in two within one week, otherwise Ryanair would sue the Government for compensation under section 93 of the Transport Act 2000. The government responded that the actions were taken under the Aviation Security Act 1982, and no compensation was payable. <ref>BBC. Ryanair issues luggage ultimatum. BBC News Online. Retrieved on August 18, 2006.</ref>

Several pilots have complained about the "ridiculous" luggage restrictions that was thought up by "utter morons", the Sunday Herald reported. Carolyn Evans, head of flight safety at the British Airline Pilots Association, said that "the procedures put in place are not sustainable long term, and unless the passengers are treated more reasonably we will not have an industry left".<ref>Are we really at risk from snacks on a plane?, Sunday Herald, 20 August 2006</ref>

[edit] Economic effects

The Times commented the day after the arrests, that the economic effects were minor and that the FTSE 100 index showed only "mild signs of strain", suggesting that terror was already priced into assets, that the market impact will be contained, and that "what is lost on the swings may be gained on the roundabouts". It observes that the real commercial risk is that "people's behaviour is altered... change may come so subtly and subconsciously that it is hard to see, let alone measure... people may stop travelling for example, not because they are scared of being blown up, but because they are tired of complying with necessary security measures."<ref> The Times paper edition August 11 2006, p.45, terror may already be priced into values</ref>

Estimates have also been made of the cost to airlines of their disrupted business. British Airways had to cancel 1280 flights, at a cost of £40 million.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5316920.stm</ref> Ryanair had to cancel 500 flights[citation needed], and are suing the UK government for the £3.3 million the cancellations cost them.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5285102.stm</ref> Easyjet had to cancel 469 flights, at a cost of about £4 million.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5323082.stm</ref> BAA says the alert cost them £13 million.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5338080.stm</ref>

BA is considering making a claim for compensation against BAA, which operates Heathrow, for its failure to provide adequate security services and shortages of personnel during the crisis.[citation needed] The Civil Aviation Authority has just commenced its five-yearly review of operation of the airport, and it is likely that BAA's ability to handle the security alert will now become part of that review.<ref name="Independent_Costs">Cost to airlines of disruption. Independent. Retrieved on August 15, 2006.</ref> Total claim for compensation against BAA has been estimated at £300 million.<ref name="Guardian_Costs">Cost to airlines of disruption. The Guardian. Retrieved on August 17, 2006.</ref>

Air passengers also switched to other means of travel. Sea France ferry company operating from Dover to Calais announced that it had beaten its all-time record for number of passengers carried in one week<ref>[6]</ref>, while Eurostar found that at the peak of the alert it was receiving 10 bookings per minute for immediate travel.<ref name="Independent_Switching">passengers switching to other means of travel. Independent. Retrieved on August 15, 2006.</ref>

[edit] Other responses

[edit] References

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