The securitization of air travel in the United States (1968–72)

Abstract

Beginning in 1968, a surge in plane hijackings, particularly from the United States, prompted a focus on security measures to combat this trend. Initially, deterrence strategies implemented through laws and adopted from international conventions proved ineffective. This article traces the evolution from selective passenger profiling to a 1972 U.S. security order to screen all passengers, triggered by the emergence of politically motivated hijackings and ransom demands, which changed the experience and nature of flight worldwide. It examines stakeholders’ perspectives, with pilots advocating for extensive profiling and screening, while airlines and airport operators favoured legal treatises, likely due to the lower financial burden of enforcement. This article examines the historical social and political context within which terrorism and counter-terrorism in the realm of air travel unfold.