4 ms·

That would only be a reasonable concern if a terrorist could determine in advance which flight is going to be sitting on the tarmac for a few hours.

jerf 9y ago
Unfortunately, it is realistic to assume that they can, because they can make a flight sit on the tarmac for a few hours. It's not that hard to get an insider in who can do that. I'd say the real objection here is that planes are not all that special as a place where people gather. The reason planes (legitimately!) require extra security and concern is that they are flying missiles. (Even the ability to divert a plane is, at a national scale, not really that interesting.) If they aren't flying, they aren't really that interesting of a terrorist target.
- SamReidHughes 9y ago
  Okay, that's a good point.
- Johnny555 9y ago
  But given the number of terrorists that are willing to die from their cause through a suicide attack, it still seems like there's a very tiny risk of a terrorist organization going through all of the trouble to have their agent sneak a bomb on board through checked luggage and board the plane, then arrange for the plane to be held on the ground long enough to allow deboarding for their agent to sneak off the plane. It seems much simpler to just find a fanatic that will go down with the plane. (and through his death, it makes it harder to track down the exact people involved in the terrorist network)
  - davrosthedalek 9y ago
    This is true for fanatic terrorism. But there are other threats, from more politically based terrorism, where suicide bombings are less common, to things like extortion.
    - Johnny555 9y ago
      Still, if someone is not wiling to die for their cause, are they willing to get on a plane that they planted a bomb on and trust that their organization will come through and stop the plane before it takes off? Seems much easier to just bribe an airport worker "Hey buddy, I'll give you $5000 if you put this bag of "drugs" on flight 1234"
      - davrosthedalek 9y ago
        They always have this option. The balance you have to find is: After how long of a wait is the benefit for society of being able to leave without removal of the luggage worth it compared to the enlarged risk of attacks. It clearly isn't "you can do this all the time", because then you would not need to pay the 5000$, or have the risk that that buddy rats you out. I'm not sure I want to be responsible to find the right amount of time.
- greenhatman 9y ago
  Most terrorist are fine with sacrificing themselves though. So why would they try to get off?
  - heeen2 9y ago
    Most? Do you have data on that?
- qmr 9y ago
  Not a tarmac. https://aerosavvy.com/aviation-terminology/ https://aerosavvy.com/aviation-terminology/
qmr 9y ago
Not a tarmac. https://aerosavvy.com/aviation-terminology/ https://aerosavvy.com/aviation-terminology/

jerf 9y ago

Unfortunately, it is realistic to assume that they can, because they can make a flight sit on the tarmac for a few hours. It's not that hard to get an insider in who can do that. I'd say the real objection here is that planes are not all that special as a place where people gather. The reason planes (legitimately!) require extra security and concern is that they are flying missiles. (Even the ability to divert a plane is, at a national scale, not really that interesting.) If they aren't flying, they aren't really that interesting of a terrorist target.

SamReidHughes 9y ago
Okay, that's a good point.
Johnny555 9y ago
But given the number of terrorists that are willing to die from their cause through a suicide attack, it still seems like there's a very tiny risk of a terrorist organization going through all of the trouble to have their agent sneak a bomb on board through checked luggage and board the plane, then arrange for the plane to be held on the ground long enough to allow deboarding for their agent to sneak off the plane. It seems much simpler to just find a fanatic that will go down with the plane. (and through his death, it makes it harder to track down the exact people involved in the terrorist network)
- davrosthedalek 9y ago
  This is true for fanatic terrorism. But there are other threats, from more politically based terrorism, where suicide bombings are less common, to things like extortion.
  - Johnny555 9y ago
    Still, if someone is not wiling to die for their cause, are they willing to get on a plane that they planted a bomb on and trust that their organization will come through and stop the plane before it takes off? Seems much easier to just bribe an airport worker "Hey buddy, I'll give you $5000 if you put this bag of "drugs" on flight 1234"
    - davrosthedalek 9y ago
      They always have this option. The balance you have to find is: After how long of a wait is the benefit for society of being able to leave without removal of the luggage worth it compared to the enlarged risk of attacks. It clearly isn't "you can do this all the time", because then you would not need to pay the 5000$, or have the risk that that buddy rats you out. I'm not sure I want to be responsible to find the right amount of time.
greenhatman 9y ago
Most terrorist are fine with sacrificing themselves though. So why would they try to get off?
- heeen2 9y ago
  Most? Do you have data on that?
qmr 9y ago
Not a tarmac. https://aerosavvy.com/aviation-terminology/ https://aerosavvy.com/aviation-terminology/

qmr 9y ago

Not a tarmac. https://aerosavvy.com/aviation-terminology/ https://aerosavvy.com/aviation-terminology/