Airline security

[Tarquin Farquhar]

I stand ready to be corrected, as usual, but it seems to me that El-Al have not had a security incident for over 20 years. They faced more terrorist attacks earlier: why don't we look at what they're doing right?

For example, decades ago they introduced something that would have prevented 9/11: a secure door between passenger cabin and cockpit, which was not opened in flight, not for anything. Even after 9/11, what we seem to have is that, when one stewardess takes a coffee in to the pilots, another stewardess stands in front of the door, to prevent single-handedly any potential charge of crazed suicidal terrorists. Too little too late?

[swamp]

El-Al do passenger profiling. All passengers are interviewed, and some are questioned for hours at an end. They will ask about certain things in mind-numbing detail over and over again. This is believed to expose liars.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Al#El_Al_security

Of course, anyone with brown skin or a dodgy beard can expect lengthy questioning. This wouldn't wash in the UK.

[singhr]

why not force passengers to change into paper disposable suits and give them their clothes back when they get to their destination?

[SantaClaus]

El-Al do passenger profiling. All passengers are interviewed, and some are questioned for hours at an end. They will ask about certain things in mind-numbing detail over and over again. This is believed to expose liars.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Al#El_Al_security

Of course, anyone with brown skin or a dodgy beard can expect lengthy questioning. This wouldn't wash in the UK.

Yep, do away with political correctness, and security becomes more effective.

[Paddy]

I stand ready to be corrected, as usual, but it seems to me that El-Al have not had a security incident for over 20 years. They faced more terrorist attacks earlier: why don't we look at what they're doing right?

For example, decades ago they introduced something that would have prevented 9/11: a secure door between passenger cabin and cockpit, which was not opened in flight, not for anything. Even after 9/11, what we seem to have is that, when one stewardess takes a coffee in to the pilots, another stewardess stands in front of the door, to prevent single-handedly any potential charge of crazed suicidal terrorists. Too little too late?

Both the latest incident and the allowing of the 9/11 hijackers en-board were acts of incompetence by the authorities. The 9/11 hijackers bypassed security and their visa applications were not scrutinised. The incompetence continued after 9/11 and was so bad that one of the dead hijackers had his USA visa renewal application accepted three months after 9/11.

Once en-board the hijackers succeeded because it was the norm that passengers and staff should co-operate with the hijackers. Fortunately on this latest incident a passenger took it upon himself to put the fire out.

Explosives can be hidden up any orifice and the tighter the security; the more difficult it will be to detect. Airlines should bring in profiling of passengers as a minimum requirement.

[Clippy]

How many people do El-Al carry compared that to all the other airlines?

To roll out these security precautions worldwide would not be viable in terms of time and cost.

However, other airlines should still look to El-Al to see what can be copied to improve safety for a reasonable time/cost trade off.

[Pondlife]

How many people do El-Al carry compared that to all the other airlines?

To roll out these security precautions worldwide would not be viable in terms of time and cost.

However, other airlines should still look to El-Al to see what can be copied to improve safety for a reasonable time/cost trade off.

Very true.

How many business commuters will be happy to check in 3hrs before the flight on a Monday morning?

[BrilloPad]

El-Al do passenger profiling. All passengers are interviewed, and some are questioned for hours at an end. They will ask about certain things in mind-numbing detail over and over again. This is believed to expose liars.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Al#El_Al_security

Of course, anyone with brown skin or a dodgy beard can expect lengthy questioning. This wouldn't wash in the UK.

A better option would be to interview youngsters who are not part of a family group.

[Doggy Styles]

Very true.

How many business commuters will be happy to check in 3hrs before the flight on a Monday morning?

And have their bottoms examined?

[SueEllen]

A better option would be to interview youngsters who are not part of a family group.

Problem with that is then the profile of terrorists would change. One of the London bombers definitely had a child ......