As Israel’s campaign against a variety of terrorist factions in the Middle East continues to expand, we witnessed a change in tactics on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Israeli intelligence intercepted shipments of pagers, walkie-talkies, and other digital devices before being distributed to Hezbollah; Israeli operatives utilized the opportunity to implant the devices with a plastic explosive suspected being PETN (Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate). Three grams of the compound, in conjunction with the device’s lithium batteries, created a devastating and practically undetectable IED, killing nine and wounding nearly 3,000 others. The following day, the same technique involving the detonation of thousands of Walkie-Talkies in Lebanon Wednesday would claim another 20 lives, injuring another 450. This method presents a shift in modern warfare techniques that are massively effective in execution, yet simultaneously opening Pandora’s box of new security threats. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but concerning undetectable IEDs, our aviation security culture in this instance is facing a new challenge.
In the world of aviation security, attempting to mitigate new threats is often like creating a cure for a new disease. Usually, we only begin to find a solution once the problem has created enough havoc to illicit an equal reaction. However, when it concerns protecting American lives and infrastructure, we aren’t in the business of response; we are in the business of prevention. So, what implications do these developments have on TSA and our approach to screening and protection? Are we on the right path to resolve this current threat and how long will it take to put procedures in place and modify current AVSEC technology? Do we have the proper training, protocols, and security technology available to detect these threats within our airports? Most importantly it takes international coordination. There are hundreds of flights from outside the U.S at last point of departure airports that fly into the U.S. on a daily basis. While we might be prepared are our airports is the aviation community outside the U.S ready?
The major issue in a threat like this is the ability to detect minute traces of these explosive materials. As passengers pass through security checkpoints, they are laden with electronic devices of all sizes that move through airports daily in both hand carry and checked bags. With a minute amount of this compound being capable of blowing a hole in the sidewall of an aircraft at altitude if presents a unique challenge for aviation security. If there is any shadow of uncertainty, the time to act is already upon us. TSA, DHS and even ICAO are criticized for always chasing the last threat. This should be a wake-up call.
Since 9/11 TSA, DHS and the counterterrorism community in the U.S. government have developed robust threat analysis capabilities, counter-explosive infrastructure and other ways to mitigate AVSEC threats. But this takes time, coordination, consensus on mitigation and distribution of new regulatory measures to counter a new threat. It sounds overwhelming but this is not TSA’s “first rodeo” and things can and do move quickly. The question becomes are we ensuring this is considered a worthy enough threat to “move the mountain and start the process?” We have literally spent billions of dollars to put a mitigation process in place. The answer is act NOW before there is another significant aviation security event.