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American Morning

Mohammed Atta Slipped Through System Easily

Aired November 02, 2001 - 09:21   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Investigators are coming up with more information suggesting that the September 11 hijackers left clues before their day of terror. But as CNN's Susan Candiotti reports, it's beginning to look like a case that might never have happened, if officials had been on their toes.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Mohammed Atta knew how to work the system. That much we know. From the time he got a tourist visa while in Berlin, to making sure he paid his bills on time, whether for flight lessons or rent. But there were occasions where Atta might have raised eyebrows. In May 2000, he received a standard six month tourist visa allowing him into the U.S. The visa was scheduled to expire last December. Traveling through the United Arab Emirates last January, sources say Atta was stopped at the airport at the request of U.S. authorities, and questioned extensively about his travel. UAE sources say they had no reason to hold him. But they warned U.S. authorities to be on the lookout. U.S. Immigration officers pulled him out of line when he landed at Miami International Airport from Madrid. His visa appeared to have expired. But Atta apparently knew he didn't have to worry. INS records showed Atta had already applied to change his status from tourist to student so he could take flying lessons. That extended his visa indefinitely, pending review.

(on camera): In words of one government official, these individuals understood the system very, very well. They did everything they could not to run afoul of the system.

(voice-over): Lawyer Palma Yanni says U.S. Immigration did not appear to make any mistakes.

PALMA YANNI, LAWYER: The facts that he gave them were correct. But, obviously, were just a such a small part of what his real intent was.

CANDIOTTI: Apparently, Atta was so confident he walked into an INS office in Miami last May to ask about a visa extension. Another show of what some called bravado last December 26 at Miami International Airport. Atta and suspected co-conspirator Marwan al- Shehi stalled their small rented plane on a main taxi way.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They apparently just shut off the master switch, and were sitting there as dumb ducks on the taxi way for more than 30 minutes, the plane not attended, and, of course, Miami International don't like that at all.

CANDIOTTI: They took a cab back to Venice, Florida where they had rented the plane.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They want us to pay the 200 dollar bill. And we have said no, no, no, no. We're not going pay for a 200 dollar bill are you crazy? It's your responsibility to get that plane back.

CANDIOTTI: The Federal Aviation Administration called the plane's owner the very next day to investigate. The FAA asked for the plane's maintenance records, but that was all. The FAA would not comment. And while Atta made sure his visa was up to date, he apparently made a point of ignoring traffic tickets. Even a bench warrant issued when he failed to show up in court for driving without a license. In Delray Beach, police had no record of that outstanding warrant when they stopped him again for speeding.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We put every little warrant, every little everything in the computer, it would prove worthless.

CANDIOTTI: In the wake of September 11th, the question worrying authorities is whether another terrorist could slip through the system, as easily as Mohammed Atta. Susan Candiotti, CNN, Washington.

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