Originally Posted by HokieEngineer
No matter what you ban, there will always be something else that can be used. You can only minimize risk. The person (more like a panel or group) in charge of making the SOP probably did not think or realize that people could use boxcutters to hijack a plane.
You hit it right on the nose. No one can ever reduce the risk to zero.
Originally Posted by HokieEngineer
I'm sure the feelings those screeners have every day are enough "punishment" for a lifetime. How'd you feel if you had been in their position?
I'm not so sure about this one. Very few people blame the screeners, who were doing their job, and apparently, did it correctly and as they had been trained. As you pointed out, it would have been very difficult to imagine this having been pulled off with boxcutters.
One more thing: While there is always the chance that something could happen again on a plane, the chances are a lot less likely now that a 9/11-type event would occur (at least from a plane). Not because of the TSA and shoe carnival, but rather, the cockpit doors have been reinforced. In addition, passengers have always been trained not to fight with the hijackers because traditionally, the hijackers were just trying to redirect the plane to another country, not into a building. Can you imagine any group of passengers now ever letting hijackers take control of a plane again?
Mike
Edited to correct inane spelling mistake.