May 30, 2016 A taxi driver slammed into a doorway at Chicago‘s O’Hare International Airport on Monday evening at about 5:30 p.m., just as travelers were returning home from Memorial Day weekend destinations. There were no reported injuries and the driver of the cab declined medical treatment, according to a Chicago Fire Department spokesman.
The incident occurred at the lower-level entrance of Terminal 3 at O’Hare International Airport. Although no one was injured, the incident evidences the remaining gaps in aviation security. There have been several security breaches in recent years that demonstrate the need for additional perimeter security measures at airports.
Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security ordered enhanced security at all American airports. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) implemented several counter-terrorism measures such as rigorous passenger screening, prohibited carry on items and restricted access of cars, taxis, shuttles and limousines from entering the areas near the terminal entrances. For a short amount of time taxis were prohibited from dropping off or picking up passengers curbside at all airport terminals.
In Glasglow, a vehicle struck security bollards in a terror ramming attack at the main entrance to Glasgow International Airport in 2004. The vehicle was carrying several petrol containers and propane gas canisters on board. Witnesses said that two men inside the vehicle appeared to intentionally strike the building.
In the U.S. the focus has been on securing airplanes rather than the public space entered before the passenger pre-screening begins. The public areas are under shared jurisdiction with local authorities. and is usually monitored by uniformed and plain-clothed security patrol, along with security cameras. It would not be difficult to drive a suicide mission by driving into an airport and detonate a car or truck loaded with explosive into virtually any airport in the United States or any other country with relative ease. Car bombs are attractive to terrorists because they are cheap and easy to breach security before detonating the explosives.
ABCNews Chicago said the driver was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. The accident did not affect the airport’s normal operations. Police have not determined what caused the crash, therefore terrorism cannot be ruled out.