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Terrorism and the threat to airline security
By ella | August 10, 2006
Unusually, no-one I know is travelling by air today and, selfishly, I am thankful for that. Heathrow, as is the case at most UK airports, is in chaos as security has been increased and almost all hand luggage has been banned. Flights in and out of the UK have been severely disrupted as airlines assess the threat and the delays and cancel services accordingly.
I have huge respect for our security services who were heavily criticised after the 7/7 London Underground bombings. Several plots have been foiled since 9/11, today’s probably the most critical. Had the terrorists been successful today, or tomorrow, or the day after that - whenever they planned to inflict their carnage - one can only imagine the horror and loss of life they would have caused both here and in the US.
After 9/11 Matthew and I talked, like many people in the Western world, about security at airports and on airlines. Matthew regularly travels with a lot of equipment and it is very rarely checked at UK airports. After 9/11 I wondered why passengers couldn’t be made to carry transparent carry-on luggage with the minimum of items allowed. We both agreed that it might be a step too far for most travellers. I am glad that from today it seems that we are being forced to do just that. I, for one, can live without my laptop and iPod for the duration of a flight if I thought it would increase my safety. Only just, but I could.
But that’s all theoretical, because as I won’t be allowed my anti-bacterial hand gel and wipes anymore on those germ-ridden tin-can people carriers, my anally-retentive, freaked-out-by-other-people’s-germs self is unlikely to be flying again.
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Categories: Worrying About Society, In The News
There’s no way to keep it totally safe, even full body cavity searches of every passenger wouldn’t ensure safety, and the public would stop flying were it to come to that. What’s important are small steps toward safety, and the illusion of safety for the majority of the public.
All said, it’s still much much more dangerous riding to the airport, than getting on a plane.
My country thanks your country!
The UK Rocks! Woot! You guys are awesome. And, I feel you on the dirty germy stuff. Ew. We drive a lot when we travel, only booking flights when absolutely necesssary. (although, think of the icky germs on a cruise, and I LOVE taking cruises.) My husband flies all the time, and requires a shot of whiskey to get him through it. And yeah, I totally feel much safer with my sister flying out of Raleigh tomorrow with the extra security measures. Cheers!
I shudder to think what might have happened.