Strategies Against Civil Aviation

 

Strategies Against Civil Aviation

Have you ever been asked any security questions before you checked in your luggage?

You know it is important to do the passenger baggage reconciliation, but you know why?

Do you scan your shoes separately at the security point?

Why can’t I carry my perfume and my gel tub on my hand carry?

 

Every process started as a result of something that happened in the past with the intention of mitigating the risk which can happen in the future. Let’s talk about strategies against civil aviation.

The history of aviation terrorism dates back to the 1930s, followed by the Peruvian revolution and the Cuban revolution, And the first-ever bomb attack inside an aircraft in 1970 (Swiss Air airliner bound from Tel Aviv to Zurich on 21 February 1970). And the first attack on an airport in 1970. (Munich airport bomb attack on 10 Feb 1970.)

The reason behind these attacks can be various but the most common ones are the political motives or personnel gains. However, committing a crime that damage the reputation of aviation leads to many countermeasures whereas we, as passengers must comply on these for our own safety and security.

Consider my first question -  Have you ever been asked any security questions before you checked in your luggage?

The reason behind this countermeasure happened in 1986, Annie Murphy case.

Annie Murphy was given a package from her fiancé name Nizar Hindawi contained explosives connected to timing device set to explode in mid-air about 39000 feet above the ground. However, the EL-AL intelligent agents questioned the passenger and assessed unexpectedly overweight luggage and found out the explosives which she had no clues about it at all.

Annie Murphy Case

Date – April 17, 1986

Airport – London Heathrow

Flight – El AL 016 / Boeing 747

Route – London to Tel-aviv

 

 In aviation, we call this unwitting accomplish. Asking these security questions (Security Questions on screen) came into effect and established in ICAO annex 17 after this incident.   

 

 

Next question is a bit of technical aspect - The reason behind the passenger baggage reconciliation. The passenger baggage reconciliation considered as a ground operation term to ensure no baggage goes on a flight without its owner.

The passenger baggage reconciliation formed as a standard practice in ICAO Annex 17 after 2 fatal incidents happened in 1980’s.  

1 – Air India 182 – Air India flight 182 crashed mid-air 31000 feet above the ground off the Atlantic Ocean as a result of an explosion from a bomb planted on board by a Canadian Sikh extremist killing all 329 passengers on board. Air India 182 incident was the deadliest aviation terrorism attack until September 11 attack in 2001.

Air India182

Date – June 23, 1985

Route – Montreal – London

TOB – 329 passenger and crew

Aircraft – Boeing 747-200

 

2 – PamAm103 – Panam103 also a similar incident to air India crash killed 249 passengers and crew on board and 11 residents in Lockerbie, Scotland where the plane hit the ground from above 30000 feet.

Two Libyan intelligent agents implant a bomb inside a tape recorder in a small Samsonite bag and left unattended onboard has caused the main reason for this disaster.

Pan Am103 or Lockerbie Bombing in 1988

Date – December 21,1988

Route – London – Newyork

TOB – 259 + 11 Residents in Lockerbie

Aircraft – Boeing 747-100

 

Third countermeasure – The reason behind you scan your shoes at the security point.

It’s because there’s one incident that happened in 2001 just after 9/11 call show bombing plot.

Richard raid who is a British national bound on a flight from Paris to Miami on American Airlines flight 63 carrying 197 passengers and crew. The alerted passengers and crew managed to thwart his plan when he attempt to detonate explosives hidden in his shoes. This failed attack led to revise the security measures in the United States and soon it became a recommended norm across many countries around the world.

Shoe Bombing Plot

Date – December 22, 2001

Flight Number – AA63

Route – Paris – Miami

Aircraft – Boeing 767-300

 

Liquid bomb plot

The trans-Atlantic aircraft plot was a terrorist plan to detonate liquid explosives disguised as soft drinks carried on board on different airlines from the UK to United States and Canada. The UK’s largest surveillance operation was successfully stopped the fatal disaster and saved thousands of lives. This failed plan changed the nature of air travel not only in the UK but also in many different countries with the restrictions in place with the amount of liquids, aerosols and gels an individual passenger can carry onboard.

 

Liquid bomb plot

Date – August 09, 2006

Place – London

When we talk about the strategies against civil aviation, we can’t forget the deadliest disaster which happened on September 11, 2001. 19 men squad armed with box knives boarded on 4 different flights, hit the world’s tallest twin tower back then and the intelligent capital of the country killing nearly 3000 lives which impact the whole socio-economic infrastructure not only United States but the whole world.  But there are so many findings that helped aviation security to move forward to mitigate the risk of terror tactically and technologically. 

 

Finally, it is always unclear where the focus drives of terrorists in line with the latest improvements in technology and human creativity. Strategies against civil aviation vlog is out on my YouTube channel AIM HIGH CLUB - https://youtu.be/rqpcXW5xLw0. The vlog and the article is solely for the purpose of education.