Originally Posted by
GUWonder
The questioning is not necessary to secure the flight. (The questioning has even failed to prevent terrorists from flying on LY and to/from/via TLV, and still the planes didn't fall out of the sky.)
The questioning resulted in Richard Reid being searched thoroughly before being allowed on his El Al flight -- and somebody from Security being placed in the seat right next to him.
Had he intended to have the plane fall out of the sky he would not have succeeded. Only pure luck stopped him when he tried it on a flight to the US.