The Unforgettable Impact of 9/11 on Travel
Back in 2001, Sean O'Keefe was serving as Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget during George W. Bush's administration. He told CNN Travel that standing on the White House grounds, he was part of the security team that understood the threat posed by Al-Qaeda but was simply not prepared to consider anything on the scale of 9/11. "It could happen."
Three decades had passed since the 1973 Palestinian terrorist attack at Rome's Fiumicino Airport, which claimed 34 lives. Yet, as O'Keefe observed, the air travel industry was not immune to international terrorism. Although the incident had significantly altered the security landscape in Europe and the Middle East, it hadn't fully penetrated the American psyche.
The morning of September 11, 2001, started like any other for many worldwide when a team of 19 terrorists hijacked four domestic flights in the northeastern U.S., initiating a series of coordinated attacks that left 3,000 fatalities in their wake. The “new normality” in air travel would never be the same again.
A Frightening Unfolding
O'Keefe was in Vice President Dick Cheney's West Wing when news broke. They turned on the television to CNN, and the receptionist informed them of what had transpired in New York City. "Something is going on in New York City."
As millions across the globe tuned in to watch the first plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center, O'Keefe and his colleagues believed they were witnessing an unfortunate accident within FAA and transportation department interests.
All that changed 17 minutes later when a second plane struck the South Tower. "It then became obvious that this wasn't an accident, but a planned operation," he recalled. Security forces and Secret Service were mobilized.
That fateful morning in the United States transformed the country into a nation intent on securing itself on both grand and small scales, as James Mann, a historian, noted in 2018. The current travel patterns, instituted on September 12, have never reached the pre-9/11 levels of frequency.
A Revelation in the Midst of Terror
The US government quickened its response to the attacks, and on November 19, 2001, the Aviation and Transportation Security Act was enacted.
"The very fact that they executed this attack on three different planes at three different locations showed the vulnerability of the United States," O'Keefe pointed out. "It's such a slap in the face. It reminds us how naive we once were."
Congress quickly realized the importance of security reforms, stated O'Keefe. Resources had to be provided to secure doors and cockpits, as well as establish security perimeters, he emphasized.
Flight terminals and airlines introduced stricter security measures in the wake of 9/11, including expanded screenings and armed military personnel on duty. The first passengers post-9/11 – those who didn't cancel or reschedule their trips – generally accepted the enhanced security protocols, realizations, and ensuing delays and disruptions, O'Keefe underlined.
Identity Verification
The hijackers aboard 9/11 flights bypassed thorough identification checks. Post-attacks, a 2001 Congressional bill required every traveler aged 18 and older to carry a valid, government-issued ID – even for domestic flights – to ensure the passenger names listed on boarding passes matched those on IDs.
In response to the attacks, the US created a “no-fly list,” although it only accounted for a portion of the Terrorist Screening Database, which included individuals forbidden from boarding commercial flights in, to, and within the United States.
Toward the end of 2001, several countries worldwide began implementing stricter identity checks, security screenings, and even biometric fingerprint scans. In 2002, the European Union introduced a regulation requiring airlines to verify that the passenger checking in baggage matched the individual presenting themselves for boarding.
The Birth of the TSA
Prior to 9/11, flight security was fragmented within the United States and carried out by individual airlines or private security companies, adapted for each specific airport.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was established in late 2001 as part of the new security legislation. It became a subdivision of the US Department of Homeland Security a year later and assumed responsibility for all airport security measures previously handled by the Federal Aviation Administration, US airlines, and airports.
According to TSA historian Michael P. C. Smith, the agency had hired nearly 60,000 employees by the end of 2002.
O'Keefe reflected two decades later, "It was a significant challenge to mobilize a new security force and bring in tens of thousands of highly qualified personnel to accomplish this task." He added, "It's not without its flaws. We've had our setbacks and ongoing challenges."
Increased Searches
It was reported that some hijackers aboard 9/11 flights carried box cutters and knives, which permitted them to bypass security checks.
Promptly, weapons like knives, scissors, and nail files were prohibited in flights, and TSA agents were better trained to recognize weapons and explosives.
By the end of 2002, the TSA had deployed airport explosive detection systems nationwide, fulfilling an important requirement of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act. Over the subsequent years, more restrictive measures would be implemented due to additional terrorist attacks.
An Aborted Attempt
In August 2006, a foiled plot to detonate liquid explosives on multiple transatlantic flights resulted in tighter restrictions on liquids, gels, and aerosols in carry-on luggage. In the same month, TSA implemented shoe removal and body scanning procedures – five years after the "Shoe Bomber" attempt.
Metal Detectors, Scanners, and More
Metal detectors were once a standard at airports in the United States before 9/11. In 2010, a "Underwear Bomber" attempt resulted in the deployment of advanced body scanners at US airports and prompted the installation of such devices globally.
Electronic Device Screenings
In response to intelligence indicating a potential threat from explosives in commercial electronics, the TSA began requiring travelers to examine their personal electronics stored in cases for radiological scanning in 2017. Facial recognition technology was tested in 2018.
The Cockpit's Sanctuary
Before 9/11, accessing the cockpit of an U.S. airliner was fairly easy, says O'Keefe. "It's like getting into a bathroom."
Within two years, cockpits became fortified and accessed only by authorized personnel.
In 2002, the Armed Aircrew program for armed pilots was enacted, and the first armed pilots began boarding commercial flights in the United States in April 2003.
The dream of visiting the cockpit – long-cherished by aviation enthusiasts and children – turned into a challenge for many. In 2021, private jet pilot and social media sensation Raymond Cohen told CNN Travel, "The limited access to the cockpit today only strengthens the aura of mystery surrounding it."
Damages to Confidence
Immediately following 9/11, there was a noticeable drop in air travel demand. Passenger trust, already shaken, was further eroded by the additional security measures that impacted air travel comfort.
In 2006, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimated that US domestic airline revenues had dropped by $10 billion per year since 9/11 in comparison to the preceding six years.
A Cornell University study published in 2005 observed that the number of road fatalities increased due to the shift in travel mode as passengers chose car trips instead of air travel.
A Second-guessing Nation
During an interview with CNN ahead of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, Blalock, one of the study's authors, expressed concern about recent events in Afghanistan. "I can't help but wonder if people will rethink their decision to fly."
Two decades later, travelers still face delays, long lines, and uncertain restrictions caused by the pandemic.
Regarding the likelihood of another attack similar to 9/11, O'Keefe questioned if the significant advancements made by the Department of Homeland Security and international security services would ever be made widely available to the public.
"While we strive to inform the public, we also inadvertently inform the terrorists," he observed. "We'll never truly know all the risks."
The sense of security shifting from almost nonexistent to all too present amidst the horrors of 9/11 would remain imprinted on the nation's collective memory. Two decades later, despite the absence of another terror attack within the airline industry of similar magnitude, O'Keefe affirmed, "These security measures have been effective."
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