Kelly Saiz
Reporter
With the attempted bombing on a flight to Detroit on Christmas Day and the security lapse at Newark Airport, travelers face increased obstacles in airfare around the world. Security administrators and personnel have issued statements that have had varied levels of reception among travelers.
Teachers and students saw major changes while waiting for transport in America as well as overseas during the holiday break. Richard Webb, Head of the Social Studies Department, traveled to London two days before Christmas and then journeyed to Paris after four days in England.
While Mr. Webb was in Europe, Abdul Farouk Adulmutallab, a Nigerian man who claims ties with Al Qeada, attempted to set off a bomb on a plane bound for Detroit. “There is nothing more frightening than being at a party and somebody is saying, ‘Hey, did you hear about the guy that just almost blew up a plane going to Detroit’ when you know that you’ve got to go on a transatlantic flight in a few days. It’s nerve-wracking,” he said.
Mr. Webb departed from East Midlands Airport in England and landed in Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris days after news broke of the attempted terrorist attack. Increased airport security was noticed immediately by Mr. Webb. “We went through all of the standard procedure. Then we get to the plane, and they call everyone from the gate at the terminal and then we were doubly screened. They wanded me, they patted me down, and they also searched our carry-on bags,” he said.
Sophomore Cassidy Ward, a member of the Madrigals Choir who traveled to London with the Concert Choir, noticed differences, too. Cassidy, along with the 36 other students and 4 chaperones, who left the States on the 27th of December via Virgin Atlantic and returned on the 3rd of January, were pulled aside and patted down in Customs. Cassidy learned of the terrorist attempt two days before her departure at JFK Airport. “It was surprising that that kind of thing had happened, but I wasn’t too worried that it was going to happen to us,” Cassidy said. “I guess anything could happen, but I wasn’t worried.”
Cassidy also observed that security was tighter when returning to the U.S. “On the way back there was more security, but I think that’s because coming into the U.S. is more secure than going out,” she said.
Since the December 22nd, 2001 shoe-bombing attempt of Richard Reid, a member of Al Qeada, those traveling by airfare have been required to remove their shoes while going through customs. Reid has since then been detained in prison for life without parole. “Ever since then we have reacted to that terrorist attempt,” Mr. Webb said.
Mr. Webb isn’t so sure about the reaction of United States government to the most recent terrorist attempt. “They [the government]seem responsive. I just hope it’s not for show,” he said.
“I think we’ve got to get there earlier. I think that the searches have to be very thorough and I think you need to pass through an imaging scanner. I’m willing for safety to do that. This is a politically incorrect view and it’s probably against the constitution, but I don’t care. I want to be safe. I’m supremely uncomfortable with this idea, but I think there needs to be logical targeting of them [terrorists],” he said.
Mr. Webb believes that those who fly will need to put up with more security measures in order to assure the safety of airplane passengers. “We’re at war and people have forgotten that, and they want the same civil liberties as if peace is at hand, but it’s not. I really believe that,” he said.
