Airline Terrorism: A History with Case Studies

Venturing beneath the surface of the ever-shifting panorama of airborne terrorism, this book immerses the reader in a vivid retelling of pivotal incidents from recent history, while delving deeply into the terrorists' favored methods of attack. The latter include hijackings, in-flight bombings, and precision missile strikes, as well as the rising peril of cyberattacks aimed at airports and commercial airliners mid-flight.

In the realm of cases, readers will encounter the controversial TWA Flight 800 disaster and the baffling vanishing act of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. These events ignited enduring discussions about terrorism and governmental transparency. Then, they will venture into the unsettling world of the September 11th attacks, where jetliners were transformed into guided missiles, and will witness the chilling tales of 'Black Widows'--Chechen female suicide bombers leaving their indelible mark on Russian soil. The narrative deepens as it explores Libyan culpability in the bombings of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, and UTA Flight 772 over the Sahara Desert. Lastly, the evolution of security measures in air travel is chronicled and includes an examination of emerging biometric technologies along with security protocols relevant to the post-Covid era.