Aviation security

Measures to prevent crime at an airport

War & ConflictDisasters & Accidents
Aviation security
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Overview

What happened

All 17 aboard a BOAC de Havilland DH.86 were killed when two German Junkers Ju 88 fighters intercepted the aircraft over the Bay of Biscay on June 1, 1943.

Date

June 1, 1943

Key people

Leslie Howard, Walter Huston

Why it matters

This article provides a detailed and engaging account of the shooting down of BOAC Flight 777, including the circumstances surrounding the incident, the impact on the families of the...

What was Aviation security?

Airport security includes the techniques and methods used in an attempt to protect passengers, staff, aircraft, and airport property from malicious harm, crime, terrorism, and other threats. Aviation security is a combination of measures and human and material resources in order to safeguard civil aviation against acts of unlawful interference. Unlawful interference could be acts of terrorism, sabotage, threat to life and property, communication of false threat, bombing, etc. Large numbers of people pass through airports every day. This presents potential targets for terrorism and other forms of crime because of the number of people located in one place.

TSA passenger screening
TSA passenger screening
Related books
Practical Aviation Security cover Practical Aviation Security Jeffrey Price · 2009 Aviation Security, Privacy, Data Protection and Other Human Rights cover Aviation Security, Privacy, Data Protection and Other Human Rights Olga Mironenko Enerstvedt · 2017 Aviation Security Ruwantissa I. R. Abeyratne · 2018 Airport and aviation security cover Airport and aviation security Bartholomew Elias · 2009 Aviation security management cover Aviation security management Andrew R. Thomas · 2008
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Background and consequences

Similarly, the high concentration of people on large airliners increases the potentially high death rate with attacks on aircraft, and the ability to use a hijacked airplane as a lethal weapon may provide an alluring target for terrorism (such as during the September 11 attacks). Airport security attempts to prevent any threats or potentially dangerous situations from arising or entering the country.

Airport security car patrolling perimeters of the restricted area
Airport security car patrolling perimeters of the restricted area
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Related on thisDay

BOAC Flight 777 is shot down over the Bay of Biscay by German Junkers Ju 88s — June 1, 1943

17 lives lost: on June 1, 1943, German Junkers Ju 88s intercepted a BOAC de Havilland DH.86 over the Bay of Biscay, resulting in a tragic crash.

Use the dated article for the day-specific account; use these references to check the event record and explore its wider historical context.

Date article: BOAC Flight 777 is shot down over the Bay of Biscay by German Junkers Ju 88s — June 1, 1943Wikipedia source
Cite this page
MLA

“Aviation security.” thisDay, thisday.info/history/aviation-security/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

APA

Aviation security. (n.d.). thisDay. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://thisday.info/history/aviation-security/

Chicago

“Aviation security.” thisDay. Accessed October 19, 2026. https://thisday.info/history/aviation-security/.

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