Sat, Oct 20, 2012
Claims Lapse In Airline Security Allowed Terrorists Into The System
The leaseholder of the World Trade Center property is arguing in a Manhattan court that United Airlines is at least partly responsible for allowing terrorists Mohammed Atta and Abdul Aziz al Omari on board a US Airways flight in Portland, ME. The pair eventually wound up hijacking an American Airlines 767 which impacted the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
Larry Silverstein, the leaseholder, argues that because United, now United Continental Holdings, was one of the carriers responsible for the operation of the only security checkpoint in Portland, it was responsible for all of the passengers coming through the checkpoint, regardless of the airline on which they held a ticket. Reuters reports that Silverstein told the court that security failures in Portland on the part of United eventually led to the presence of Atta and al Omari on the American flight, where they carried out their plan.
In the hearing Thursday before District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, Silverstein's attorney Richard Williamson said that United was "just asleep at the switch," calling Portland the "first line of defense" in preventing the hijacking.
But the judge, who in 2009 dismissed claims against other airlines related to the attack, asked aloud if he would be "acting inconsistently" if he did not also dismiss the claim against United. The airline's attorney, Jeffery Ellis, told the court that "the duty is to the passengers on our flights."
Silverstein has also named Boeing, the Massachusetts Port Authority, and independent security companies as he seeks to recoup $8.4 billion in damages for lost property and lost business. Judge Hellerstein has limited any potential damage claim to $2.8 billion, the amount Silverstein reportedly paid for the leases.
More News
Hold Procedure A predetermined maneuver which keeps aircraft within a specified airspace while awaiting further clearance from air traffic control. Also used during ground operatio>[...]
Altitude Readout An aircraft’s altitude, transmitted via the Mode C transponder feature, that is visually displayed in 100-foot increments on a radar scope having readout cap>[...]
Aero Linx: European Hang Gliding and Paragliding Union (EHPU) The general aim of the EHPU is to promote and protect hang gliding and paragliding in Europe. In order to achieve this>[...]
Also: Skydio Chief, Uncle Sam Sues, Dash 7 magniX, OR UAS Accelerator US Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall was given a turn around the patch in the 'X-62A Variable In-flight>[...]
"The need for innovation at speed and scale is greater than ever. The X-62A VISTA is a crucial platform in our efforts to develop, test and integrate AI, as well as to establish AI>[...]