"Are Bay Area Airports Vulnerable to Attack?"

Monday, March 31, 2003

Are Bay Area Airports Vulnerable to Attack?
By John Lobertini 
KCBS-TV San Francisco (CA)


The federal government has taken a close look at two Bay Area airports
because of concerns that the facilities might be vulnerable to missile
attacks.   

The Transportation Safety Administration won't talk about what investigators
found at San Francisco International Airport and San Jose-Mineta
International Airport, and say there is no specific threat. But the Bush
administration believes that a shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missile could
breach security at many large airports, and have checked 80 facilities
across the nation.

San Francisco International Airport is surrounded by water on three sides,
which could make it more protected from a ground attack than some other
facilities. But the open space and bicycle trails around part of the airport
might leave runways and passenger jets at risk.

"That's a possibility. But also, you could be in someone's backyard in Daly
City or in Oakland, and do a similar thing," said Mike McCarron, SFO
spokesperson. "We have patrols along the perimeter road to check for unusual
vehicles... We're doing what we can."

The next step could be safeguarding the planes themselves.
"There are anti-missile defense systems, there are infrared sensors," said
McCarron. "There are a variety of things they can look at doing."


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