Much has been made in recent years of increased physical security risks that flight crews face in the skies. From belligerent passengers attacking flight attendants to technical malfunctions on planes to confusion over items some people include in their luggage, risks abound on today’s flights.
Last year, there was a very vocal push among flight crews to receive more self-defense training from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
That and other physical security improvements have been instituted at airports and on flights, Security Magazine reports. These improvements underscore just how crucial robust physical security protocols are for passengers and crews alike on today’s flights.
The TSA trained more than 5,000 air carrier crew members in proper self-defense measures. For crews hoping to take advantage of this program, the TSA has made sign-ups accessible through an online portal.
Underscoring how important this training is, Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants union, told NBC News in 2021 just how threatening passengers have been on flights in this post-pandemic era.
“They’re treating us like punching bags, whether that’s verbally or physically, Nelson told NBC. “We have never seen this level of aggression or conflict on our planes and we really need some help.”
Outside of self-defense, the TSA has been making other physical security improvements.
In the Security article, the magazine points out that the TSA prevented 6,737 firearms from entering secure areas at airports and onboard aircrafts. One disturbing statistic — a high 93% of those firearms were loaded.
Additionally, the agency used 2,000 high-tech Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) machines to screen mobile drivers’ licenses and harness facial recognition tech. These machines are necessary for screening passengers’ credentials while also keeping privacy front and center.
Collaboration is also key. The magazine reports that the TSA has beefed up continued partnership with local, federal, and state law enforcement entities to respond in real time to threats. The report also reveals that the TSA performed 51 “various aviation-related security assessments throughout the nation” in 2023.
These statistics emphasize just how necessary fortified physical security protocols are for airports, aircrafts, and the workers and passengers who pass through and use them on a daily basis.
Just as physical security threats are becoming increasingly complex on the ground, the skies deserve just as much vigilance from security stakeholders in order to keep everyone safe.