Hijacking Thwarted Aboard Flight to Cairo
October 21, 2009 by Homeland Security NTARC News
Filed under Incident Reports
Security guards thwarted an attempted hijacking Wednesday on an EgyptAir flight from Istanbul to Cairo.
A Sudanese man used a knife from the in-flight meal to threaten crew members and demanded that the flight be diverted to Jerusalem, the official said. Guards on the flight were able to detain the man and no one was hurt, he said.
An attempted hijacking by a man wielding a knife from an in-flight meal has been thwarted by guards, EgyptAir officials said. The incident happened shortly after the plane, carrying almost 90 people, took off from Istanbul, Turkey, heading to Cairo. The Sudanese man threatened crew members and demanded that the flight be diverted to Jerusalem, officials said.
He was detained by air marshals, and the flight landed in Cairo.
Mexico-USA Flights See Increased Security Measures
September 21, 2009 by national
Filed under Homeland Security News
Mexican federal police will intensify security measures on flights inbound to the United States from Mexico at the request of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, according to press reports in Mexico.
Under the new measures, Carry-on luggage as well as regular baggage will be thoroughly checked twice, as will boarding tickets. The measures, adopted after the hijacking of an Aeromexico plane on September 9th, was prepared by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and expanded to include about 450 U.S. airports with flights from Mexico, reported Federal Police sources.
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Airline Preparedness – Always Mindful of the Nearest Exit
When I travel, I am always planning for disaster. I’m not some guy who hates to fly. I actually love to fly. But I can’t turn off the “what ifs” in my brain. I’m a former Secret Service agent and the training is ingrained. And now I own a security company.
Part of being an effective Secret Service agent was having what we liked to call “situational awareness.” It’s basically nothing more than looking around your location, sizing up the people around you, and then thinking of the many things that could go wrong, and what you would do if one of those things happened.
Now I do that on airplanes. I just can’t help myself. I’m actually the guy who always pays attention to the preflight safety briefing. And I actually review the safety card, if only to look at the diagram of exits.
The single most important thing in this process is planning how I am going to get out if things go south during my flight. This is particularly true if I am traveling with my family. I actually visualize how we’re going to get out of an emergency.
There are a few other things I do for safety. I never take off my shoes until we’ve reached cruising altitude, and I make sure they’re on before descent. I encourage my wife to wear flats because it’s hard to move quickly in heels, and being barefoot is worse.
And I always carry a few tools. One of my favorite items is a lithium cell flashlight. When I was a Secret Service agent, I found that a good flashlight is the single most useful tool on the planet. Aircraft evacuations happen so quickly that I don’t know if I ever will need to use it — at least I hope I won’t. But I always bring one with me.
Also in the category of things that I may not have time to use, but still carry anyway, is a smoke mask. The one I have is filled with aloe, which filters toxic chemicals out of smoke.
Surviving Disaster Premieres Sept 1st – Spike TV
Surviving Disaster Premieres Sept 1st on Spike TV. What will you do when disaster strikes? Spike TV’s new original series Surviving Disaster, led by Navy SEAL Cade Courtley, vividly takes viewers through catastrophic scenarios and arms them with the knowledge needed to survive the unthinkable. Courtley tackles worst-case scenarios and equips viewers with the practical information needed to save their own lives and the lives of their loved ones.
Whether the threat is natural or man-made or on a national or personal level, Courtley speaks directly to the viewers and guides them through a comprehensive, step-by-step process to not only survive the big picture disaster, but endure the many dangerous obstacles that may occur within each catastrophic event. While leading viewers out of danger, Courtley not only provides helpful tips and hands-on instruction, but swiftly points out common misconceptions and fatal mistakes. Unlike any other series, Surviving Disaster may actually save lives by providing actions that anyone can perform.
Having had the opportunity to assist in the research for an upcoming episode I can attest that “Surviving Disaster”, is unlike anything you’ve seen on television. The show will have you on the edge of your seat as you’re instructed step-by-step, how to stay alive when disaster strikes. It’s a show you won’t want to miss and as stated, “could save your life”.
Related post on Spike TV’s Surviving Disaster
Surviving Disaster Series Premieres On Spike TV
Surviving Disaster Spike TV
For the past few weeks I’ve had the privilege of consulting in research for an upcoming episode of an incredible new show, Surviving Disaster, scheduled to premiere on Spike TV, Tuesday, September 1 (10:00-11:00pm ET/PT). Mark this date on your calendar, it’s a show you won’t want to miss!
Surviving Disaster – Picking up a few last minute items at the mall when violent gunmen storm the store…what to do? What if, on the daily subway commute, a bio weapon is released? Or a fire is blazing in the 12th floor office and the only way out is blocked? Disasters can strike at the most unexpected times, but Spike TV’s new original series “Surviving Disaster,” led by Cade Courtley, vividly takes viewers through catastrophic scenarios and arms them with the knowledge needed to survive the unthinkable. Navy SEAL Courtley is the ideal host for this timely series, having faced imminent danger for a living, conducting clandestine missions from the sea, air and land that include counter-terrorism operations, special reconnaissance and unconventional warfare. The series premieres Tuesday, September 1 (10:00-11:00pm ET/PT) with an episode dedicated to a plane hijacking.
Each week, Navy SEAL Courtley tackles worst-case scenarios and equips viewers with the practical information needed to save their own lives and the lives of their loved ones. Whether the threat is natural or man-made or on a national or personal level, Courtley speaks directly to the viewers and guides them through a comprehensive, step-by-step process to not only survive the big picture disaster, but endure the many dangerous obstacles that may occur within each catastrophic event. While leading viewers out of danger, Courtley not only provides helpful tips and hands-on instruction, but swiftly points out common misconceptions and fatal mistakes. Unlike any other series, “Surviving Disaster” may actually save lives by providing actions that anyone can perform.
Featured Surviving Disaster Content
Cade Courtley Survivng Disaster
“Surviving Disaster” featured content on Spike.com will present an introduction to host Cade Courtley, including videos, a biography and an exclusive multi-week breakdown of the “Top 10 Most Impressive Survival Stories of All Time,” presented by Courtley. The promotion will be timed to lead up to the premiere of the show. The show page will also feature exclusive downloadable survival guides based on each upcoming episode, sneak peeks, video clips and a forum for viewer commentary.
Other disaster-themed episodes this season include: Nuclear Attack, Home Invasion, Fire, Avalanche, Lost at Sea, Hurricane, Bio-Chemical Attack, Mall Shooting and Earthquake.
A standout from the beginning of his military career as a Naval Officer, Courtley was the Class Leader in his BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL) training and was chosen to attend the elite SEAL Sniper school, a privilege given only to a select few. While on active duty, he served tours in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Southeast Asia, where he led highly classified, high-risk operations. He continued this high-risk profession with several tours to Iraq in the private sector. His strong background in military Special Operations has given him the unmatched skills to survive and adapt in the direst of circumstances.
“Surviving Disaster” is produced for Spike TV by Shed Media US (“Man On Wire,” “Supernanny,” “The Real Housewives of New York City”). The series is executive produced by Alex Graham and Nathaniel Grouille. Sharon Levy, Tim Duffy and Joe Weinstock are Spike TV’s executives in charge of production.
Visit Surviving Disaster - Spike TV Site
al Qaeda Plotting Multiple Attacks on US-Israel-bound Airliners
July 7, 2009 by national
Filed under Homeland Security News
Western anti-terror agencies have warned that a large group of 15-20 al Qaeda terrorists, trained in Pakistan and Algeria to hijack and blow up airliners, deployed secretly in at least six European and Middle East countries in early July. They are reported to be standing ready to carry out multiple terrorist attacks.
DEBKAfile’s counter-terror sources report the first specific red alert on Saturday, July 4, referred to the possible hijack of Turkish Airways planes taking of from Turkish airports for US destinations or Tel Aviv.
Last week, German authorities discovered that groups of terrorists may have been dispatched from training bases in Pakistan to launch crippling attacks.
In April, U.S. intelligence officials warned Germany about possible terror attacks. Since that time German security officials have reportedly been preparing for massive, multi-layered attacks for which al-Qaida has become known.
Shortly after the April warning, German Ambassador Klaus Scharioth said in an unrelated interview, “You will understand that I can’t go into the details of the terrorist threat, but I can only tell you that we all know that we have to be vigilant and that we have to continue to work very hard on that, but I do not want to go into details.”
Intelligence suggests al-Qaida operatives are planning to plant multiple explosive devices in several locations and detonate them either in a simultaneous or sequential fashion.
U.S. and German intelligence sources say that strategy is designed to emulate the ones employed Bali in 2002 and Madrid in 2004. The idea is to draw in first responders to the scene after the first explosion, and then the subsequent explosions are set off in the same location to inflict maximum casualties.
A U.S. intelligence source with knowledge about the situation says “it is a credible threat, which also includes Germans in North Africa.
Plane Evacuated At Rotterdam After Hijack Threat
August 26, 2008 by national
Filed under World Report
A plane due to leave Rotterdam for Bodrum in Turkey was evacuated late on Tuesday after emergency services received a telephone threat saying it would be hijacked, Dutch authorities said.
Passengers on the plane, operated by Dutch budget airline Transavia, were kept on board for about five hours before the evacuation began.
“The plane is now empty and all passengers left in a calm manner,” a Dutch police spokesman said. Read more
