Originally Posted by
SPN Lifer
I am not trying to be argumentative, but whose fault was it, or what was the proximate cause, of the 9/11 hijackers being able to smuggle their blade cutters and whatever else they used for their plot?
Obviously onboard aircraft security, such as unlocked cockpit doors, had at least "something" to do with the systemic vulnerabilities at that time.
Another aspect is the national guidance given. Pre-9/11, air crews were trained to cooperate with hijackers and passengers were encouraged to remain passive. The expectation of active resistance to hijackers on planes likely does more to deter them than screening passengers on the ground. My own opinion is that the next 9/11 style attack will occur using either private or cargo jets, so as to remove the wild card of having passengers on board.