How the 9/11 terror attack changed the aviation industry

Substantial changes were made to the way we fly after the horrific events on September 11, 2001, where terrorists hijacked four planes and crashed them into the World Trade Centre, as well as the Pentagon in Washington and a field in Pennsylvania.

Airports across the world, including Gatwick Airport near Crawley, had to install x-ray machines and introduce more security checks as well as stricter rules on what people could take on flights.

Steven Tomlinson was working in the airline industry during the 9/11 attacks

Sharp objects such as nail scissors are now restricted from air travel while limits on liquids have also been introduced due to the thread of terror attacks.

Since the atrocities in the United States, passengers have been subject to longer checkpoint lines meaning they have to arrive at the airports earlier.

However, these small inconveniences have helped to dramatically reduce the risk of a passenger jet being hijacked.

And while there have been terror attacks involving planes, there has not been a successful hijacking from inside an aircraft that has led to disaster since 9/11.

In terms of the business side of aviation, there have been other dramatic changes to protect people in the sky.

Steven Tomlinson, who lives in Shoreham, used to work at companies such as British Airways and Caledonian Airways.

He working as the chief operating officer at Excel Airways - a charter and scheduled airline which was based in Crawley - in 2001.

The business was preparing to launch its commercial airline in the coming summer season, the most profitable time for aviation companies with people are planning for their holidays.

• READ MORE: How The Argus told the horror of 9/11 for people in Brighton
• READ MORE: 9/11: Sussex survivor describes his escape from Twin Towers
• READ MORE: 9/11: How The Argus covered the anniversaries of Twin Towers attack

The 62-year-old said: "In the afternoon we started hearing that something had happened in New York, someone went and found a portable television and we were in shock.

"We were planning on launching the Excel Airways airline the following spring, and we were just left standing around not knowing what the effects would be."

Following the attack, Mr Tomlinson and his company had to locate the planes and passengers.

As well as making sure they were accounted for, routes had to be re-planned to avoid airspace which had been closed for security reasons.

"After it became apparent that it was a terrorist attack, we were not prepared for every plane being grounded. At the time, it was a catastrophic and devastating thing.

"The changes that followed were a lot more extensive than anything that had happened before."

Mr Tomlinson's company also had to look at its finances as the attack decreased the number of passengers booking over the winter months due to a lack of confidence in air safety.

This meant outgoing cash had to be minimised with payments delayed as best as possible.

Mr Tomlinson said: "One example of added expense that we had was to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on armoured doors that are able to stop hijackers from getting to the pilots in the cockpit.

"Of course, anything that makes it more difficult for a plane to be hijacked is a good thing. There have been other kinds of attacks since, but nothing to the same extent from inside the actual aeroplane.

"As well as the extra money that was spent, there was plenty of new rules and regulations that everyone had to come to terms with, such as the extra security checks in the airports."

Have you got a story for us? Email news@theargus.co.uk or contact us here.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with all the latest news.

Sign up to our newsletter to get updates sent straight to your inbox.

You can also call us on 01273 021 400.