Jazmin Li
The September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, were a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks carried out by 19 al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorists who hijacked four commercial jetliners. The attacks, which were the deadliest in history, killed 2,977 people and exposed the lax security measures in place at US airports at the time. The hijackers strolled through metal detectors at four airport security checkpoints with ease, carrying deadly weapons. The airports affected were Boston's Logan Airport, Portland Airport, Newark International Airport, and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The attacks had a profound impact on airport security, with new regulations and the creation of the Transportation Security Administration to oversee security and conduct screenings.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | September 11, 2001 |
| Number of Terrorists | 19 |
| Number of Airports Affected | 4 |
| Airports Affected | Boston's Logan Airport, Newark International Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Portland Airport |
| Number of Flights Hijacked | 4 |
| Security Measures Post-9/11 | Creation of the Transportation Security Administration, 100% baggage screening, expansion of the Federal Air Marshal Service, reinforced cockpit doors, advanced imaging technology, ban on sharp items in carry-on bags, restrictions on liquids, gels and aerosols |
| Impact on Air Travel | Significant contraction in U.S. air travel, decrease in number of flights and passengers, increase in security measures and delays |
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What You'll Learn
- Boston's Logan International Airport, from where two of the hijacked planes took off, was affected
- Newark International Airport in New Jersey, from where United Airlines Flight 93 took off, was impacted
- Reagan Washington National Airport, where a plane was headed before crashing into the Pentagon, was affected
- Los Angeles International Airport, which piloted new security checkpoint technologies in 2018, was affected
- McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, where TSA PreCheck® operations began in 2011, was impacted
Boston's Logan International Airport, from where two of the hijacked planes took off, was affected
On September 11, 2001, 19 al-Qaida-affiliated terrorists hijacked four commercial jetliners, strolling through metal detectors at four airport security checkpoints with ease. Two of these planes, American Airlines Flight 11 and American Airlines Flight 175, took off from Boston's Logan International Airport.
The 9/11 attacks, as they came to be known, were four coordinated Islamist terrorist suicide attacks carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States. The first two planes crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, the third into the Pentagon (headquarters of the US Department of Defense) in Arlington County, Virginia, and the fourth plane crashed in a rural field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, during a passenger revolt. The attacks killed 2,977 people, making them the deadliest terrorist attacks in history.
In the aftermath of the attacks, an intense spotlight was focused on airport security, and measures were put in place to prevent similar attacks from happening again. The Aviation and Transportation Security Act was passed, which made the federal government, rather than airports, responsible for airport security. The Act also established the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to inspect passengers and luggage, mandated 100% checked baggage screening, expanded the Federal Air Marshal Service, and reinforced cockpit doors.
Logan International Airport features as a key thruway on the extensive evidence trail developed by the military commissions trying the five men accused of plotting the 9/11 attacks. The airport now has a 9/11 Memorial that is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the two gates from which the hijacked planes took off, C-19 and B-32, are marked with American flags to honour the victims.
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Newark International Airport in New Jersey, from where United Airlines Flight 93 took off, was impacted
On the morning of September 11, 2001, 19 terrorists boarded and hijacked four commercial flights – two in Boston, one in Washington, DC, and one in Newark, New Jersey. The fourth and final plane to be commandeered by terrorists was United Airlines Flight 93, which took off from Newark International Airport in New Jersey.
Newark International Airport was directly impacted by the events of 9/11. The airport was the departure point of United Airlines Flight 93, which was hijacked by terrorists and crashed in a field in Stonycreek Township, near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. All 40 passengers and crew members on board Flight 93 perished in the crash.
The hijacking of Flight 93 and its subsequent crash had a profound effect on the airport and its operations. The airport was forced to implement enhanced security measures, including the deployment of new TSA officers at security checkpoints. The federal government assumed responsibility for airport security, establishing the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to inspect passengers and luggage. These measures led to significant delays and raised concerns over passenger privacy.
The impact of the 9/11 attacks on Newark International Airport also extended beyond the immediate aftermath. The airport was renamed Newark Liberty International Airport in 2002 to honour the victims of the attacks and pay tribute to the Statue of Liberty, located just a few miles away. The airport's new name serves as a constant reminder of the tragic events of 9/11 and the lives lost.
The events of 9/11 had a lasting impact on airport security across the United States, including at Newark International Airport. The implementation of stricter security measures, such as the installation of advanced imaging technology and full-body scanners, aimed to detect weapons, explosives, and other threats more effectively. These changes transformed airport security procedures, prioritising the safety and protection of passengers, crew, and the wider public.
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Reagan Washington National Airport, where a plane was headed before crashing into the Pentagon, was affected
On the day of the attacks, acting Airport Manager Chris Browne recalled that his immediate efforts focused on protecting travellers, planes, and structures from further harm and damage. Embers from the smoke plume of the Pentagon crash fell onto the airport, serving as a reminder of the very real risk.
In the aftermath of 9/11, Reagan National faced the challenge of securing its premises in new and unforeseen ways. As a 24/7 public facility with large occupancy loads, building codes had previously stipulated that the airport could not have locks on its curbside entrances. However, after 9/11, the airport had to be secured, and locks were installed on doors that had previously served as exit points.
The 9/11 attacks also had a significant impact on airport security measures nationwide. The Aviation and Transportation Security Act, passed in November 2001, made the federal government responsible for airport security, creating the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to inspect passengers and luggage. This led to long delays and raised concerns over passenger privacy. Airports implemented new regulations, including restricting access beyond security checkpoints to ticketed passengers only and banning sharp objects from carry-on bags.
In addition to heightened security measures, the TSA has also focused on utilising new technologies to enhance security. In 2010, they began installing advanced imaging technology units, or full-body scanners, capable of detecting non-metallic weapons and explosives. More recently, TSA has piloted the use of facial recognition technology for identification and boarding pass verification and plans to test CT scanners at select airport checkpoints to improve threat detection capabilities.
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Los Angeles International Airport, which piloted new security checkpoint technologies in 2018, was affected
The September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, were four coordinated Islamist terrorist suicide attacks carried out by al-Qaida-affiliated terrorists against the United States. On the morning of September 11, 2001, 19 terrorists hijacked four commercial flights – two in Boston, one in Newark, New Jersey, and one in Washington, DC – and hijacked them shortly after takeoff. The first two planes were deliberately crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, the third into the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia, and the fourth plane crashed in a rural field in Pennsylvania during a passenger revolt.
The 9/11 attacks exposed the lax security measures at airports at the time, and the terrorists were able to stroll through metal detectors at four airport security checkpoints with ease, carrying deadly weapons. In the aftermath of the attacks, intense scrutiny was placed on airport security, and measures were implemented to prevent similar attacks from occurring in the future.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), which piloted new security checkpoint technologies in 2018, was affected by the heightened security measures following 9/11. In February 2018, LAX, in partnership with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), introduced two new security checkpoint technologies at the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT). The first pilot project used facial recognition technology to automate the identification and boarding pass verification process. Passengers ticketed on an international flight could opt to use the biometric recognition system to verify their identity. A camera would take a photo of the passenger to verify that the name on the boarding pass and passport photo matched the passenger's face. The second pilot project featured an enhanced Advanced Imaging Technology (eAIT) unit with increased detection capabilities. Commonly referred to as a body scanner, it did not require travelers to raise their hands during the scan. It also provided corrective feedback, alerting the TSA officer if a passenger was improperly positioned, potentially reducing the need for a pat-down.
LAX has continued to collaborate with various stakeholders to enhance security and improve the passenger experience. In August 2018, TSA highlighted additional emerging technologies being tested and implemented at LAX, including computed tomography (CT) scanners for carry-on luggage and Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) for verifying passenger identification. These technologies enhance threat detection capabilities and improve the efficiency of the security screening process.
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McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, where TSA PreCheck® operations began in 2011, was impacted
The September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, were four coordinated Islamist terrorist suicide attacks carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States. On the morning of September 11, 2001, 19 terrorists hijacked four commercial flights—two in Boston, one in Newark, New Jersey, and one in Washington, DC. The first two planes were crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, the third into the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia, and the fourth plane crashed in a rural field in Pennsylvania during a passenger revolt.
In the aftermath of the attacks, an intense spotlight was focused on airport security, and measures were put in place to prevent similar attacks from occurring again. The Aviation and Transportation Security Act was passed, which established the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to inspect passengers and luggage, conduct 100% checked baggage screening, and oversee security across all modes of transportation.
The TSA PreCheck program was introduced in October 2011 at four airports in response to complaints about invasive security screening measures adopted post-9/11. McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas was one of the airports where TSA PreCheck operations began in 2011. By June 2017, 13 of the 28 air carriers serving McCarran participated in PreCheck, with security lines averaging 13 minutes, while PreCheck cut that time in half.
McCarran International Airport has continued to be a site for TSA innovation. In 2019, the TSA unveiled the first-of-its-kind Innovation Checkpoint at the airport, allowing for the testing and evaluation of emerging security technologies in a live checkpoint environment. This initiative aims to enhance security effectiveness, improve the passenger experience, and create a better workplace for TSA officers.
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Frequently asked questions
Mohamed Atta and Abdul Aziz al-Omari, two of the 9/11 hijackers, passed through security at the Portland International Jetport in Maine. Atta was selected for additional scrutiny but was allowed to board without much additional scrutiny. Several of the other hijackers were flagged by CAPPS at other airports but were also permitted to board.
The 9/11 hijackers boarded four commercial flights: two in Boston, one in Newark, New Jersey, and one in Washington, DC.
During Operation Yellow Ribbon, between 225 and 240 aircraft were diverted to 17 different airports across Canada. Halifax International Airport received the most flights, while Vancouver International Airport received the most passengers. Other airports that were involved include Gander International Airport and airports in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, British Columbia, Yukon, New Brunswick, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, the Northwest Territories, and Quebec.
In the aftermath of 9/11, an intense spotlight was focused on airport security, and measures were put in place to prevent similar attacks. New regulations included only allowing passengers with tickets to pass through the security checkpoint, banning sharp items from carry-on bags, and requiring 100% checked baggage screening. The creation of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) led to the deployment of advanced imaging technology units, enhanced screening procedures for carry-on items, and stricter security checks for passengers.
