Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Event/Special

America Under Attack: Air Travel in Los Angeles Crawling

Aired September 14, 2001 - 00:42   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.
JIM CLANCY, CNN ANCHOR: Well, the heightened security across the U.S. is having a ripple effect on transportation from neighboring countries as well. U.S. customs and immigration officials have intensified their scrutiny of vehicles and of passengers who are trying to enter the United States. Cars and trucks at various entry ports from Canada are experiencing long waits, sometimes lasting as much as 12 hours. Ontario's transportation ministry urges motorists to postpone travel to the United States. There have also been delays along the border with Mexico.

Well, meantime, air transport gradually being restored after Tuesday's ban on all commercial flights in U.S. air space. Many airports and airlines resuming operations on a limited basis on Thursday, with travelers facing strict new security measures. Most airlines limited their flights to completion of those that were diverted after Tuesday's attacks. New York's three major airports opened briefly, but then were shut down after the FBI detained at Kennedy International Airport. Authorities say he tried to pass through security with false documents, identifying him as a pilot.

Well, Frank Buckley has been monitoring this situation at Los Angeles Airport. He's joining us from there now live. Frank.

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Jim, LAX did reopen today, but with a very limited schedule. On an average day here, you have some 2,100 flights. Today, airport officials tell me there were less than 100 flights going in or out of Los Angeles. Still, there are some flights. And even at this hour here in terminal four at American Airlines, there are people attempting to go home, many of these people having to spend the past few difficult days away from loved ones.

But this morning, the first of the arriving passengers into Los Angeles came here aboard an Al Italia flight. It had been diverted to Canada on Tuesday. Today it finally arrived in L.A., bringing with it reunions, families together again.

CNN's Chris Burns has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Sighs and cries of relief, that loves ones on an Al Italia flight from Milan to Los Angeles during the terror attacks weren't hijacked themselves. They were diverted to Calgary, Canada. Nunzia Bologna (ph) stayed calm, but her sister on the ground was terrified.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We was scared when we heard the news. So, thank you, God, everything is OK now.

BURNS: The plane finally made it to Los Angeles International Airport Thursday, the first passenger flight here since the terror attacks. On Tuesday's flight, the passengers only knew they were being diverted until one of them called an operator on her cell phone. Her parents didn't know she switched to a direct flight, from a stop over in New York.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They were more hysterical because they didn't hear anything until 2:00 in the afternoon and they thought I was dead.

BURNS: Passengers say the final trip home from Canada started about midnight, hours waiting to take off after lining up for hours of searches.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Through the handbags and they were like every small things they were questioning and they were looking for some weapons, I guess.

BURNS: Squeezing out toothpaste tubes, things like that?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everything. Everything, even cameras, even everything with - battery operated.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BUCKLEY: And back live here in Los Angeles where the passengers are awaiting their flights, wherever they can go this evening, airport officials are hopeful that they will be able to increase the schedule tomorrow.

But the passengers everywhere are being warned to come early. Here in Los Angeles the domestic passengers are being told to come two-and-a-half hours early for their flight, three-and-a-half hours early for international flights.

We can tell you that curbside check-in is a thing of the past, at least for the moment. Here in Los Angeles, people are not even allowed to drive their personal vehicles up to the curbs. They have to take shuttles to come into the airport terminal area.

We can also tell you that security is far more visible than it usually is and also far less tolerant. There was one incident here in terminal four, for example, tonight which there was an unattended suitcase that was unattended just for a few moments. In a few moment's time, FBI agents and police officers surrounded that bag and then a passenger sheepishly approached and said, That's mine. She was thoroughly checked out, her identification was checked and she was finally allowed to go on.

But that's how tight the security is at this airport and how it will be at other airports across the U.S. Jim, back to you.

CLANCY: All right. Frank Buckley reporting there from Los Angeles International, where the security is tight, yet the lines are moving.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com