A wake-up call for Indian airports

The suicide attack at the Domodedovo airport in Moscow that killed 35 and injured many on Monday lays bare the inadequate security arrangements at such a busy airport. The arrival hall in the international airport did not have metal detectors in the luggage area. In lay-out and orientation, the international and the domestic terminals are adjacent to each other, somewhat similar to the situation in Chennai. The suicide bomber exploded the device in the arrival hall where a maximum crowd had gathered in the evening to receive guests. Looking at the Indian scene, the pre check-in and baggage check procedures are no different in most of our airports. All the screening equipment and personnel are located inside the departure area close to the check-in counters where there is concentration of people particularly during the morning hours. In fact, there is no security check at all of any baggage right till reaching the x-ray machines (located well inside the departure halls). With the existing unimaginative procedures, a determined suicide attacker would not be stopped from reaching the target area after being legally allowed access to the check-in area. He could be in possession of a valid ticket with a bag full of explosives. At the entrance the CISF personnel check the e-ticket and confirm the identity of the passenger; they do not check the baggage.
A terrorist after gaining entry into the crowded areas could wait in the hall till even after his flight departs and choose a moment to strike and time the detonation to cause maximum damage in the departure hall. Unfortunately after any such successful attack, it is only a detailed investigation that would perhaps indicate that a valid passenger who passed through the security cordon before the screening of the baggage was responsible for the blast. In fact, there may hardly be any leads and one may not even find the identity of the suicide bomber with the number of casualties and suitcases damaged beyond recognition depending on the intensity of the blast. Worst of all, he could even get away in the aftermath of the explosion.
26/01/11 R S Vasan/ExpressBuzz

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Categories: Airports Jan 2011, Safety Jan 2011