Foiled bomb plot creates chaos

These days, even a ‘foiled’ airliner bomb plot can succeed in creating massive chaos. When British authorities announced on Thursday August 10 that they had pre-empted a hair-raising plan to blow as many as 10 transatlantic flights out of the sky, they couldn’t have anticipated how long-lasting and traumatic the repercussions would be.

Some 24 suspects were included in the arrests, which came after an investigation lasting several months. Plotters were reportedly spooked by preliminary arrests into opting for an immediate attack, which precipitated the police round-up.

Authorities believe they had planned to sneak explosives onto flights bound from the U.K. to the U.S. in liquid form, detonating them onboard with wires contained in innocuous electronic devices. The plot was “as sophisticated as any we have seen in recent years as far as terrorism is concerned,” said Michael Chertoff, secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). One airline, Jet Airways of India, even announced that one of its own security employees was among the suspected plotters.

The DHS immediately raised the threat level to “Severe,” or Red, for commercial flights from the U.K. to the U.S., and to “High,” or Orange, for all commercial aviation operating in or destined for the U.S. For its part the U.K. raised its terrorism threat level to “Critical,” meaning that an attack is imminent.

Given the nature of the threat, the announcement caused widespread chaos for airlines and passengers around the world. British Airways immediately cancelled 1000 flights in the days following, including all domestic and European flights. Lufthansa, Iberia, Olympic, KLM and Air France flights to the U.K. were also immediately halted. Some 400,000 would-be travelers were affected, and security agencies were universal in their focus on preventing liquids and gels of any kind from being carried on-board by passengers. In most airports such items were simply banned.

British airport operator BAA plc announced security steps to speed security operations. While it reversed its initial outright ban on carry-on bags, it limited carry-ons to a single bag the size of a briefcase.

Fortunately, signs that tensions were easing came quickly. On August 13, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security adjusted its aviation threat level back from Red to Orange, while the U.K.’s terrorism threat level reverted to “Severe” from “Critical.” Chertoff was quick to point out that the threat was not yet over, and that despite the lifting of some restrictions, heightened security measures would remain in place.