Airport cameras show hijackers set off alarm

At the time of the attacks, the airlines were responsible for providing passenger security under the supervision of the Federal Aviation Administration. Since then, airport screening has been turned over to federal employees under the Transportation Security Administration. A TSA official said today’s level of security is far superior. “We have reinforced cockpit doors. We do 100 per cent baggage screening,’’ the official said.

All five hijackers on Flight 77 were selected for additional security screening, according to a previous report from the 9/11 panel. Pilot Hani Hanjour and two others were picked out by a computerised profiling system used by the airlines. The other two were selected as they provided inadequate identification information.

The video shows hijackers Khalid al-Mihdhar and Majed Moqed entering the security checkpoint at 7.18 am and setting off the metal detector. On going through it again, only Moqed set off an alarm. He was checked by a screener using a hand-held wand, who found nothing. Hanjour then went through the metal detector without setting off an alarm.

Nawaf al-Hazmi set off the magnetometer twice and was checked with a hand-held wand. His carry-on bag was also checked for traces of explosives. His brother, Salem did not trigger any alarms. They were cleared to board the plane.

It is believed the hijackers were armed with box cutters, or homemade knives or weapons fashioned from wire. Elsner said the agency was derelict in not banning all knives. —(LAT-WP)