Nine of the Sept. 11 hijackers were identified as possible security risks by the government’s passenger-profiling system before boarding the ill-fated flights, the commission investigating the attacks revealed.
But, following the guidelines in place at the time, officials at three of the nation’s airports merely searched their baggage for explosives rather than questioning or searching the men.
Had the government required more intense screening for passengers identified by the computer-assisted, passenger-screening program, officials might have found and confiscated the box cutters used to hijack the four airliners.
At least three of the 19 hijackers set off metal detectors but were allowed to proceed to their gates. Two were scanned by screeners with hand-held metal detectors.
At a hearing Tuesday, the commission found that the FAA’s Office of Civil Aviation Security considered the possibility of a suicide attack as far back as 1998 and mentioned it in a presentation to airlines in early 2001.
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Compiled from RedEye news services and edited by Lara Weber (lweber@tribune.com) and alBerto Trevino (atrevino@tribune.com)
