Aviation Security Threat Assessment

Threat Assessment for Aviation Security

• Threat Definition: The probability of an attack, influenced by motive, intention, and capability.
• Motivations: Political, personal, religious, hate-related, prisoner release, intent to harm the economy, or hurt reputation.
• Intention: To kill, hurt, destroy, damage reputation, or hurt economic standing.
• Capability: Bombing, hijacking, or shooting.
• High-Profile Industry Targets: Civil aviation is targeted due to its high-profile nature, forcing reactions from governments, causing high fatalities, creating wide impact with limited risk (paid to die), and causing high death tolls in a single incident.

Threats to Aviation, Actors, and Types

• Terrorists: Political, financial, or religious motivations drive intent to kill many in an attack.
• Criminals: Profit-driven motivation for profit, financial gain, or commercial ventures.
• Refugees: Asylum seekers, often desperate, can pose a threat to others with destabilized behavior or mental health.
• Mentally Ill: Certain behaviors could lead them to be a threat to others who may be suicidal
• Protesters: Protestors can disrupt operations or act as decoys in an attack, creating significant public alarm.
• Journalists: Investigative journalists may go above and beyond for a story, and can end up used by terror groups.

Types of Threats (in Aviation)

• Unlawful Seizure: Taking control of the aircraft, beginning with seizure in cabin and escalating to cockpit control.
• Highjacking: Taking over an airplane, usually in-flight but escalating to cockpit control.
• Ground Attacks: Threats from the ground, including ground-to-air missiles and bombs.
• Bomb on Board: Anytime a passenger is removed from the plane and their belongings are not returned, their luggage should be offloaded.
• Airport Sabotage: Damage or disruption of airport facilities.
• Cargo Threats: Cargo that is not properly screened or sealed is a potential risk.
• Insider Threats: Used for attack planning, information gathering, or smuggling.
• Explosive Substances, Devices, Firearms, Sharp Objects, and Stunning Devices: These items or weapons pose a security threat that need to be checked and monitored thoroughly.

Managing Threats

• Management Responsibility: Managing threats is everyone's responsibility.
• Reporting: Report suspicious actions, behaviors, and activities immediately.
• Security Expertise: Seek advice from security departments, legal advisors, and relevant authorities.

Threat Assessment and Levels

• Threat Levels: National Intelligence agencies assess threats, handing them over to authorities of the affected area.
• Red Level: Very credible information requiring immediate action, and stopping operations.
• Amber Level: Somewhat credible information requiring enhanced security measures.
• Green Level: Continuing daily operations as normal.
• Information Sharing: Agencies share information with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) who passes the details to the respective airlines.

Security Procedures and Guidelines

• Staff ID Checks: KAC staff IDs should always be visible, with checks for expiry dates.
• Missing IDs: Report lost or missing KAC staff IDs immediately.
• Passenger IDs: Passenger identification, check-in requirements include security questions.
• Vehicles and Temporary Permits: Vehicles with passes require display and a date.
• Screening Procedures: Prohibited articles include explosives, devices, weapons, sharp objects, and stunning devices (pepper spray/teasers).
• Suspicious Items: Report items that seem out of place. Keep a safe distance from suspected items, and never handle them.
• Unattended Items: Check, report, and then dispose of unattended items.
• Suspicious Behavior: Report suspicious behaviors, vehicles near restricted zones, recordings of sensitive areas, and inquiries about security procedures.
• Information Collection: Report threats received via telephone, text, face-to-face, social media, mail, and email.

Explore the complex factors surrounding threats to aviation security, including motivations, intentions, and capabilities of various actors such as terrorists and criminals. This quiz also highlights the unique vulnerabilities of civil aviation as a high-profile industry target.