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El Al Known for Tight Security

Aired July 5, 2002 - 05:08   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: El Al security is being credited for acting quickly during that incident, though. The Israeli airline, as John said, is known for its tight security.

Our Miles O'Brien takes a look at the extensive security at the Israeli based airline.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): What is it that El Al Airlines knows or does that U.S. air carriers don't?

ISAAC YEFFET, FORMER HEAD OF SECURITY, EL AL: We have to ask ourselves, did we do all its necessary that the flight will fly safe? Once the answer is yes, let him take off.

ISSY BOIM, PRESIDENT, AIR SECURITY INTERNATIONAL: So if you are a person in El Al, most likely you will be observed from the minute that you left your car or you've been dropped off and then you would have met the security agent before you go to the check-in to check-in your flight.

O'BRIEN: In essence, these security experts say, El Al Airlines leaves absolutely nothing to chance. And I mean nothing. They haven't had a single hijacking in more than three decades.

David Hermesh is the president of El Al.

DAVID HERMESH, PRESIDENT, EL AL: Unfortunately, because of our situation, we developed the system not because we want to, because we had to do it because of the facts that we had.

O'BRIEN: When El Al passengers arrive at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, or any other airport that El Al services, three hours before departure they are interviewed by trained security personnel. Among the questions, who paid for your ticket? Why are you traveling? And when did you book this flight? During the extensive interview, ticket holders will also be psychologically evaluated, their entire makeup judged, mood, body language, everything.

BOIM: He will decide what kind of a passenger I am, if I could go for this way or I could go for the other way.

O'BRIEN: The information is then sent on by computer to international intelligence agencies like Interpol or Scotland Yard for instant evaluation. If there are any lingering doubts, the passenger won't be allowed on the plane.

Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, each and every El Al plane around the globe is carefully guarded. The plane needs cleaning or food service. Guards are watching whether there are passengers on board or not.

All pilots flying for El Al have flown in the Israeli Air Force and are professionals in weaponry and hand to hand combat. However, one El Al official tells CNN pilots do not carry guns in the cockpit. There isn't a need. Two bulletproof doors activated by a keypad from inside the cockpit act as a barrier between those flying the plane and the cabin.

YEFFET: We don't want the pilots to be fighters. We want them to stay in the cockpit in case of emergency, land in the nearest airport and lead the air marshals that are really professionals.

O'BRIEN: On board every El Al flight, there are at least two undercover air marshals seated among the passengers. They dress in plainclothes and are armed, licensed to shoot and kill in situations where time is of the essence.

Miles O'Brien, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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