Editorial: Airline security needs boost

Friday, May 12, 2006 | 7:22 a.m.

The Star-Ledger newspaper of Newark, N.J., has disclosed that at four U.S. airports there are two levels of security for departing planes, a high one for the Israeli airline El Al and a moderate one for all other airlines.

Since 2002, when airport security was taken over by the Transportation Security Administration, El Al has been allowed to substitute its own security measures at John F. Kennedy International in New York, Los Angeles International, Miami International and O'Hare International in Chicago. El Al is requesting that its own procedures also be allowed at Newark Liberty International Airport.

In addition to screening passengers more carefully and using its own, more highly trained security personnel, the Israeli airline's method involves a much closer examination of baggage. El Al officials use standard American bomb-detection hardware but switch to their own software when checking bags being loaded onto their flights. The software is more sensitive and triggers more alarms and hand searches, the Star-Ledger reported.

After all El Al bags have been screened, TSA officials return the bomb-detection machine to regular service, but switch to less-sensitive software.

Israeli flights are obviously a target for terrorists, and we fully appreciate their need for the highest level of security possible. But American flights are targets, too. Why isn't the TSA using more sensitive software on all flights?

The Newark newspaper reported that U.S. aviation officials have answered that question by citing privacy rights and the sheer number of planes and passengers. But the paper also reminded readers that, since 9/11, "undercover tests at U.S. airports have consistently shown that TSA screeners miss a significant number of fake explosives."

El Al is showing the way and the TSA needs to heed its example. We must not, as 9/11 recedes into history, ever again become complacent about aviation security.