Terrorists using Cargo Planes instead of commercial planes ?

Captain · Post by **Captain** » 24 May 2004, 14:45

What security improvements have been made to stop a cargo plane being hijacked and used in a similar way to Sept 11 ?

We keep hearing about security improvements for commercial aviation but not much for cargo.

It appears cargo it might now be easier to hijack a cargo plane or to cause damage by using a cargo plane. Remember that crazy American guy who posted himself in a box from New York to Texas. He went through three airports unnoticed (was only when the delivery man arrived at his home they discovered).

At Stansted for example the cargo planes are within a couple of metres from a staff car park and all that seperates a potential terrorist is a fence.

What does everyone think?

Captain

744rules · Post by **744rules** » 24 May 2004, 18:55

I think safety and security issues should not be discussed on a public forum.

Lyulka · Post by **Lyulka** » 24 May 2004, 19:23

I think safety and security issues should not be discussed on a public forum

I think so too. You never know who'll read it.

mrocktor · Post by **mrocktor** » 25 May 2004, 14:05

I think so too. You never know who'll read it.

I think you seriously underestimate terrorists' ingenuity. They've certainly evaluated this possibility before. This whole "we are smart and they are a bunch of stupid nomadic sand-people" is what got the US in this mess in the first place.

Or do any of you think they got the idea for 9/11 from the Tom Clancy novel?

Sabena_690 · Post by **Sabena_690** » 25 May 2004, 15:50

The organisations behind real terrorist groups are much smarter than people like for example Bush and his CIA will ever be.

Let me give you one example how a neoconservative thinks: 'to increase safety, we are going to bann Middle-Eastern people on EU and US airlines'. Reactions of the terrorist: 'you idiot, then we put only Western people on the planes'.

The terrorism of the future is most probably not the terrorism of Al Qaeda anymore, since Al Qaeda (or better said: the organisation behind Al Qaeda) doesn't exist anymore.

For a terror strike like 9/11, you need a big organisation who prepares this very carefully (and it takes years). I will be very surprised when a group of planes will be hijacked in the near future.

Of course, this doesn't want to say that you don't have to look out. We will have to be very careful in the future, because the danger comes from small groups, handling 'in the name of Al Qaeda'. And only a few people must be crazy enough to hijack a plane with a dangerous load, to create a disaster.

Frederic

Captain · Post by **Captain** » 25 May 2004, 23:33

Come on, if you read the press and watch frequent tv programmes about Terrorism and Al Qaeda you can learn a lot of new information.

I don't think discussin this is a forum is a security threat. I'm just highlighting that it appears that certain airports or that cargo transport as a whole does not appear to be as secure as commercial aviation.

I wasn't looking for exact detail and weaknesses in certain airports/planes. Just a general debate just like you would see on a tv programme.

Captain

Lyulka · Post by **Lyulka** » 26 May 2004, 00:00

THe problem to me is that I'm afraid this will turn out in a conversation about Brucargo. Perhaps via this way it will reach BIAC (you never know), with perhaps extra security measures as a consequence. And one of the few persons who will feel the consequences of addad security around airports will be us (spotters), I'm afraid.

Post by **luchtzak** » 26 May 2004, 00:09

Lyulka wrote:Perhaps via this way it will reach BIAC (you never know), with perhaps extra security measures as a consequence. And one of the few persons who will feel the consequences of addad security around airports will be us (spotters), I'm afraid.

I believe it's in Manchester Airport where spotters are asked to report any strange things going on around the airport. If BIAC complains we can convince them with good comments