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American Morning
Is Al El The Right Model For U.S. Airlines?
Aired December 24, 2001 - 07:24 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: The FBI says the man who tried to ignite explosives on an American Airlines jetliner could face more charges.
And that brings up one of our big questions this hour. How can the skies be made safer?
Israel's El Al Airlines is one of the most secure carriers in the world. What can others learn from that airline's security measures?
Isaac Yeffet is former head of security for the airline. He's also retired from the Israeli Secret Service, and he joins us now to talk a little bit about airline security.
Mr. Yeffet, good to have you with us.
ISAAC YEFFET, FORMER HEAD OF SECURITY, EL AL AIRLINES: Thank you.
O'BRIEN: We often point to the El Al model. But in many ways, that doesn't apply to something as large and diverse as the U.S. airline industry, with the number of flights and the number of airlines.
Is that a true statement?
YEFFET: I can say yes. The problem is that the security in Paris show that they failed totally to secure the Flight 63 of American Airlines.
It's impossible that the aircraft, that should be the last line for security problems, became the first and the last line.
Number two, passenger with British passport is coming to take flight from Paris to Florida without luggage. This is a big red flag.
O'BRIEN: And ...
YEFFET: We need to know -- we need to know, why he came to Paris to take the flight, where he bought the ticket, when he bought the ticket, how he paid for the ticket. And if we know how to check passport, I've heard that in the passport it says that he was born in England.
O'BRIEN: And ...
YEFFET: When you ask a few questions, through the accent, you can learn that this is not a British native that can talk to you the right English with the right accent.
O'BRIEN: It seems to me from the reports we're getting, Mr. Yeffet, that the security was inconsistent. Apparently, this suspect tried to get on that flight on the previous Friday, and was thwarted for the very reasons you cite.
And then he was able to get on this flight and fly on Saturday without any difficulties.
What does that tell you about security in general? Is it just based on whatever individual happens to be asking the questions? Shouldn't it be more standardized?
YEFFET: Any passenger must be interviewed by qualified and well- trained security people. It's impossible to continue relying on technology.
We found out that the fact that he had plastic explosive on his shoe didn't help us with the technology that we had when he passed through the metal detector.
If we could ask him the questions before he arrived even to the check-in counter, I can assure you that, with El Al, he was found with his explosive on the ground for different reasons that we got the information before even he think to come and to take the flight.
O'BRIEN: What we're talking about here is profiling, and sometimes when you mention that word, it gets people a little bit upset. But do you feel that that's something the airlines need to be doing?
YEFFET: I prefer that people will be a little bit upset and to save life of hundreds of passengers, rather to be nice and to lose life of hundred passengers.
Today, the passengers are willing to give from their convenience to make sure that they can fly safe and secure when they fly to any destination they need.
O'BRIEN: Mr. Yeffet, I am struck by the reaction of the passengers and the flight attendants on this flight. It seems as if the whole equation in the sky has changed somewhat.
Do you agree?
YEFFET: I agree, but I disagree with the fact that we have to give -- to leave -- the aircraft to be the first and the only security problems, instead of having it on the ground.
Today, the stewardess that we have to salute them, with the passengers. They became the security people. I think it's a shame for the governments, and it's a shame for the security of the airlines that allowed this kind of incident happens.
O'BRIEN: Isaac Yeffet is a former security official for El Al Airlines. He joins us from New York. Thanks for being with us this morning. We appreciate it.
YEFFET: Thank you for having me.
O'BRIEN: All right.
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