US Checking Foreign Airlines for Terror Risks-Tightens Airport Security

[VolcanoJen]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26028-2003Dec23.html|

New U.S. intelligence is prompting stepped-up scrutiny into whether foreign airports and airlines have been penetrated by individuals sympathetic to terrorists groups, U.S. law enforcement officials said.

U.S. security officials have been thoroughly checking the identities of foreign flight crews before their departures from U.S. airports and upon their arrival in the United States. U.S. officials have questioned a small number of crew members in recent weeks after their names appeared to be similar to those on the FBI's "watch lists" of suspected terrorists, Bush administration sources said yesterday.

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In an unusual event, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Los Angeles city officials said last night that said they will forbid passengers from being picked up or dropped off by private vehicles at the Los Angeles International Airport terminal during the holidays. Passengers will have to be picked up and dropped off at nearby parking garages. It is the first time in nearly two years that a major U.S. airport has restricted access in that fashion.

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Passengers coming into at least one major U.S. international airport on Air France and flights from Mexico will be subject to more security procedures beginning today, according to an aviation industry official and two other sources. Some foreign airlines are planning to have their countries' armed air marshals on board U.S.-bound flights, sources said.

[Nevernose]

1. i never understood the "checking the cars" thing at the airports

Wouldn't terrorists at an airport be after AIRPLANES? If they were looking for crowds or lots of cars, there would plenty of other places for them to go, right? Places that weren't being checked?

[Old and In the Way]

2. Looking for Korans and "B-747 Piloting guides for Dummies"

Appears to be the terrorist's MO.