Training Exercise Results and Conclusions

I'm not going to breakdown the entire video second by second, instead I will give generalizations. I also have to be mindful that since we currently have Behavioral Detection Agents within the TSA I do not want to give away "trade secrets" that help them do the best possible job.

Unfortunately, I have seen this video too many times. I'm sure you are aware this is actual footage of 911 hijackers going through security.

Results:
First, gaze aversion was practiced by each and every hijacker; They avoided eye contact with TSA agents.

There was little- if at all- glancing around at others or the surroundings. Which you see many of the other passengers do casually.

Angular distance, where they angled their bodies away from TSA agents, but they did not always angle their bodies towards their bags or destination.

There was backing away shown by at least one of the hijackers when his accomplice's bag was being looked at by a TSA agent- Fight or flight response.

There is a slight stiffness and less gestures by some of the hijackers as compared to others traveling through security.

There is some excess walking, and shifting of weight and walking in place. This is an involuntary action done by the body to burn off adrenaline.

Even though the tape was short and did not show before and after entering security, I would suspect they entered security more slowly then they exited security. This in the biggest suggestion I would make of the TSA: redesign their security layout so there is a space of at least 30 feet where walking pace can be judged prior to entering security and immediately upon exiting security. This combined with a more structured "gathering your items" together area. After metal detectors there should be a place where you immediately put your shoes on again, then you get your belongings from the conveyor belt, then walk the 30 feet out of security. People who intend to do harm will forgo "gathering your items" area to regroup and distribute belongings later, instead they will want to exit the area quickly. Unfortunately most security areas are on the verge of gridlock and gait cannot be judged as normal or abnormal.

A comment was made concerning a hijacker backing off when his accomplish was being checked with the hand held metal detector. It appeared to be the case at first glance, but in fact it was the way the security was set up where there were two metal detectors lined up with space between them; the second hijacker was so nervous he was walking in a straight line instead of breaking off to his right, a TSA agent had to direct him over to the right. Another thing I would do is set up cognitive processing as part security processing. Painted lines controlling flow with areas where TSA could change passenger direction midstream, this would show confusion by the nervous traveler..

Lastly, change TSA security from simply a checkpoint, but to encompass the entire gate areas. Behavioral agents should also be scanning the waiting passengers. The 911 hijackers showed subtle signs going though the security checkpoint and they also had to show signs while they were waiting to board the aircraft- they would not be casually napping, reading, or calling people on the phone like most travelers are- there would be a seriousness and intensity in their demeanor.

The hijackers showed subtle and not so subtle signs of their intentions, however the way they were acting is not all that uncommon among honest travelers. The key is to attempt to find someone not exactly playing the roll of a passenger going through security, and then ask further questions of the traveler to determine the risk.

The Behavioral Detection Agents are doing a great job, evidenced by the many arrests of suspicious travelers- most of which are traveling with false identification. While they are not always catching terrorists, they are effectively finding those that are nervous going through security which is a sign we are safer than we were years before the program.◦

Training Exercise Results and Conclusions