Andrew Ferguson

My Brief Thoughts on Northwest Flight 253

I’m going to keep this short, no more than 250 500 1000 words^[1].

As you all know by now, there was an attempt to blow up another airplane. Although it was initially reported someone lighting off firecrackers, it was soon discovered to be a makeshift bomb and “Bomb experts say there was more than enough explosive to bring down the Northwest jet, which had nearly 300 people aboard, had the detonator not failed.”^[2]

I haven’t heard much as to the explosive nature of the bomb, other than it was “PETN^[3] and possibly a glycol-based liquid explosive”^[4] and it was “carried in a soft plastic container – possibly a condom.”^[5]

While there may have been enough explosives present by mass to destroy an airliner (and I even have some doubts about that^[6], given the lack of calculations I’ve seen), what are the odds^[7] of our suspect (or any future suspect) maximizing the effectiveness of such an explosive given their circumstances?

Here’s what I’m really concerned about though: Richard Clarke, former counterterrorism czar and ABC News consultant, has this to say, “We’ve known for a long time that this is possible and that we really have to replace our scanning devices with more modern systems.” Clarke said full body scans were needed, “but they’re expensive and they’re intrusive. They invade people’s privacy.”^[8]

Responding to a need for fuller and more frequent body pat-downs and scanning, Rep. Peter King of New York, the top Republican on the Homeland Security Committee, said, “I think we have to head in that direction… Yes, there is some brief violation of privacy with a full body scan. But on the other hand, if we can save thousands of lives, to me, we have to make that decision.”^[9]

Why are we continuing to move in a direction that is A) ineffective and B) in violation of our constitutional rights^[10]? (See also: A Discussion on the Fourth Amendment and National Security)

In response, the TSA has issued emergency rules that I’m sure will go far in helping keep people safe:
From www.businessweek.com:

Airline passengers traveling to the U.S. from other countries were ordered to remain seated for the last hour in flight, and were limited to one carry-on item in response to an attempted terrorist attack yesterday on a Northwest Airlines flight to Detroit from Amsterdam.
New U.S. Transportation Security Administration rules also prohibit passengers from getting anything from their carry-on bags or having anything in their laps in the final hour of flight, the agency said.

Bruce Schneier, an internationally renowned security technologist and author, had this to say in response to Northwest Flight 253 and the new TSA rules:

And what sort of magical thinking is behind the rumored TSA rule about keeping passengers seated during the last hour of flight? Do we really think the terrorist won’t think of blowing up their improvised explosive devices during the first hour of flight?

For years I’ve been saying this:

Only two things have made flying safer [since 9/11]: the reinforcement of cockpit doors, and the fact that passengers know now to resist hijackers.

This week, the second one worked over Detroit. Security succeeded.

Now is not the time stripping more of my rights away in the name of security; I’m and sick and tired of being treated like a criminal. (My new policy: “Do I have the right to refuse this search?”)

Now is the time establish a new type of a system; a system that works. I don’t have all the answers, but I do know that what we have now and the path we’re on is ineffective and needs to change.

And may God help whoever tries to blowup a plane I’m on; because I will own their sorry ass.

Thumbnail: “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!” from Network (1976), released by MGM. © 1976 MGM.

1. including quotes and footnotes [↩]
2. Officials: Only A Failed Detonator Saved Northwest Flight [↩]
3. NB: Same explosive Richard Reid used in 2001; gee, taking my shoes off during screening really helped prevent that from happening again… [↩]
4. U.S. Airline Security Reviews Under Way [↩]
5. Official: Explosive PETN Used in Attack [↩]
6. PETN – hard to detect and just 100g can destroy a car [↩]
7. The Odds of Airborne Terror [↩]
8. Officials: Only A Failed Detonator Saved Northwest Flight [↩]
9. U.S. Airline Security Reviews Under Way [↩]
10. “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” – Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution [↩]

Tags: Bruce Schneier, Fourth Amendment, Homeland Security Committee, Northwest Airlines 253, pentaerythritol tetranitrate, Peter King, PETN, Richard Clarke, Richard Reid, security, Transportation Security Administration