Our Approach
Why We Focus On Explosives
Our Approach and Focus to Better Meet The Threat
The nature of the current terrorist threat has changed since September 11, 2001. Today, explosives pose the greatest threat to U.S. transportation systems and TSA has made a risk-based choice to change our operations to better meet this threat. Terrorists may plan to use an explosive device against a U.S. transportation system not only to cause a catastrophic explosion but also to facilitate a hijacking, either by breaching the operational controls or using the explosive device as a means of crowd control.
We believe explosives to be the greatest threat to U.S. transportation systems because terrorists continue to use explosives abroad, and many explosives materials are cheap and readily available.
Terrorists have used improvised explosives devices, or IEDs, as their preferred tactic. Terrorists used IEDs for the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, the 1995 attack on the Federal Building in Oklahoma, the 1998 attacks on the East African embassies, and the 2000 attack on the USS Cole. These devices are regularly used against U.S. Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
On August 10, 2006, United Kingdom authorities arrested extremists engaged in a substantial plot to destroy multiple passenger aircraft flying from the United Kingdom to the United States by using liquid explosives.
Improvised explosive devices have characteristics that make them attractive for terrorist use. IEDs can be quickly assembled from everyday materials that independently appear to be harmless, such as flammable liquid, chemicals, match heads, fireworks powder, and batteries.
IEDs are particularly difficult to detect since an unassembled device can be brought into the transportation system by various people in different components, quickly assembled, and detonated. IEDs and their components can also be relatively small in size and easily concealed in personal baggage or clothing. Terrorist groups continue to plan and train with IEDs that could be smuggled into the U.S. transportation system. Reportedly, terrorists are experimenting with explosives that differ in density, appearance, and texture.
TSA has added additional security measures that have greatly reduced the risk of an attack similar to those of September 11. We have deployed measures like hardened cockpit doors, the Federal Flight Deck Officer Program, and a vastly expanded Federal Air Marshal Program.
Learn more about our approach to security
Kip Hawley's Statement Before the U.S. Senate | Layered Approach To Security
A Layered Approach To Detecting IEDs
We have made a risk-based choice to change our operations to focus on preventing terrorist attacks using explosives. Consistent with our risk-based analysis, we have implemented a layered approach for explosives detection.
Although using a single method of explosives detection can not guarantee identification of explosive materials, our layered approach presents a formidable obstacle for a criminal or terrorist attempting to bring explosive material into the aviation system. Checked baggage screening, passenger screening, security officer training, air cargo security, Bomb Appraisal Officers (BAOs), Federal Air Marshals (FAMS) and Federal Flight Deck Officers (FFDOs) comprise these essential layers. These layers result in air passengers, baggage, and cargo undergoing multiple explosives detection techniques, and in the extremely unlikely event that an explosive is brought beyond the security checkpoint, safeguards are in place to prevent an onboard incident.
