Introduction
Airplane explosions are an increasingly common phenomenon in today’s technologically-dominated world. For Australia, this issue is the one affecting the local aviation industry critically. Specific boards, namely ground-based security services, are primarily responsible for preventing bomb attacks (Kožović & Đurđević, 2021). Nevertheless, despite the activities of these services, any explosions inevitably pose a threat to the lives of people and equipment, which is associated with the great destructive power of explosives. Terrorist attacks organized through criminal networks pose a danger to civil aviation, and cases of explosions on board are not isolated (Bennett et al., 2021). Although stringent security measures are constantly taken, aviation security in Australia remains vulnerable to a range of threats, including cyberattacks and criminal activities. Formulating adequate strategies and mechanisms to prevent potential threats of terrorist attacks and other cases of crime committed on board aircraft is an urgent task for the Australian aviation industry.
Australian Aviation Security and Risks
The most significant threat to aviation security in Australia is unlawful interference, which can be terrorism, sabotage, threats to life and property, the spread of false threats, bombs, and some other incidents. Terrorism, the economic crisis, and the spread of disease are dangers caused by external events. However, according to Lynch et al. (2020), most aviation incidents are the responsibility of the airline. Allowing incidents on civilian aircraft may be fraught with the imposition of monetary sanctions and even the revocation of the carrier’s license from the airline (Lynch et al., 2020). As a result, civil aviation carriers are required to develop mitigation strategies to avoid severe incidents that threaten the health and safety of passengers. The reliability of the airline is one of the priorities that influence the choice of citizens, and the implementation of relevant safety standards is a necessary measure.
In the past ten years, Australia has had no successful aircraft hijackings. This terrorist activity has decreased significantly as airport security systems have recently improved. The most recent hijacking attempt took place in 2014 when Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800 was traveling from Brisbane, Australia, to the island of Bali (Bachelard et al., 2014). One of the pilots reported an attempted hijacking of the plane after an intoxicated passenger tried to enter the cockpit. After landing, the intruder was arrested, which is a common practice. The police identified him as Matt Christopher Lockley, an Australian citizen. Initially, Indonesian authorities voiced the version of an attempted hijacking of an Australian airliner with 139 passengers on board (Bachelard et al., 2014). After an alarm was sounded earlier Friday from the plane, additional security forces and military equipment were pulled to Denpasar International Airport, and several flights were delayed.
Mitigation Measures
Australia’s aviation sector is pushing for stricter security measures at airports, including more thorough bag checks for bombs and other explosive devices. The government has instructed relevant authorities to be vigilant and effective in protecting passengers and luggage from attempted bombings (Lin et al., 2020). The boards responsible for airport security in Australia have since implemented an advanced, multi-level technology to screen passengers’ luggage and identify any potential bomb threats among passengers (Lin et al., 2020). Such an initiative is crucial, but one of the significant aspects of control is the impartiality of inspectors. Any prejudice or bias is unacceptable, and following a well-established control procedure is mandatory. As a current innovation, Lin et al. (2020) note the system of cancellation for the carriage of any cargo that arouses suspicion among security personnel. This approach minimizes the risks associated with carrying explosives on board an aircraft.
Intelligence gathering is another preventive strategy implemented in response to the threat posed by terrorist attacks. Any questionable, unusual, or suspicious activities in airports must be immediately processed and transferred to security services (Bennett et al., 2021). It is important to have data on every passenger to identify potentially dangerous individuals. The use of intelligence may help limit or eliminate the risk of a bomb attack, ensuring the safety of both passengers and cargo.
Hijacking
Terrorists may utilize plane hijacking to deliver messages and impose demands. Australia has portrayed plane hijacking as one of the concerns facing the aviation industry in the country (Bennett et al., 2021). Due to advanced social networks, terrorists can communicate their needs to the target demographic. The conditions that terrorists impose on aircraft personnel and passengers are a direct threat to people’s lives. Staff on the ground must comply with terrorists’ demands during a plane hijacking if they care about the lives of the passengers on board (Bennett et al., 2021). However, pilots and passengers can be in danger of a crash landing. Since hijacking is an acute issue in the aviation industry, Australian airport officials have mapped out preventative steps to deal with the problem, largely to increase the safety of passengers.
There are two primary motivations for terrorists to hijack a plane, as evidenced by past hijackings. The first one is to get away from trouble or to leave one location for another (Bachelard et al., 2014). When they take over a plane, they make pilots change course and land in an unexpected place. The second reason terrorists hijack an airplane is to exact ransom from the government or the plane’s owners/crew (Bachelard et al., 2014). Passengers become hostages who are held by force to demand a ransom potentially.
Australian aviation authorities have developed measures to reduce the likelihood of hijackings to ensure the safety of passengers. As Bennett et al. (2021) argue, the cultivation and promotion of domain awareness can mitigate the impacts of airline hijackings. Predicting when and where a plane will be hijacked requires putting into action and analyzing the information gathered from airports, air surveillance systems, and other intelligence sources. Domain awareness contributes to collecting and analyzing large volumes of data to foresee potential terrorist occurrences (Bennett et al., 2021). Thus, airport security services should be aware of the threat assessment and take appropriate action if needed.
The Spread of Infectious Diseases
Air travel presents a risk for the international transmission of infectious diseases, particularly those that are fatal and highly contagious. According to research carried out in response to the global epidemic of Zika, any mode of transportation, especially air travel, is a dangerous channel for spreading infectious diseases faster (Lin et al., 2020). The use of planes speeds up and increases the distance of the spread of threatening illnesses (Kožović & Đurđević, 2021). The government of Australia, in conjunction with the organizations responsible for disease management and prevention, has committed to cooperating closely with these organizations to guarantee passengers’ safety (Meena et al., 2021). If an infectious disease is transferred on an airplane traveling through multiple nations, there is a possibility that these countries will become infected with the sickness.
The government of Australia and the public and private healthcare sectors must cooperate to eradicate any possibility of a disease outbreak among passengers. The healthcare field is responsible for making guideline manuals and processes available to eliminate potentially infectious diseases (Lynch et al., 2020). This will greatly reduce the risk of these illnesses spreading to other countries, ultimately saving lives (Kožović & Đurđević, 2021). Before these diseases can spread globally, the authorities in charge of airports should screen passengers with increased vigilance and compliance to find them. This can be accomplished by adhering to the necessary health protocols to recognize the signs and symptoms of contagious diseases among passengers.
The collaboration of the Australian government with the corporate sector is another preventative measure that may be taken to reduce the risk of spreading infectious diseases. This initiative may give the aviation industry an added advantage as the private healthcare sector provides medical expertise and services to timely prevent sick passengers from boarding aircraft (Smith et al., 2019). In addition, the government is calling on all stakeholders to come forward and offer assistance in containing the further spread of the disease (Kožović & Đurđević, 2021). According to Xu et al. (2022), enhanced safety is a necessity, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic that has affected millions of people globally. Strengthening cybersecurity standards and introducing mandatory algorithms for monitoring the condition of passengers are significant initiatives to implement in the fight against the spread of dangerous diseases by civil aviation.
Conclusion
The Australian airline industry demands stronger safety standards to prevent terrorist threats and ensure the safe transport of passengers. Based on the experience of crimes committed, one might note that the multiple communication channels available to hijackers make it easier for them to hijack aircraft, thereby increasing the risks to passengers and crew. The ongoing war on terrorism has resulted in criminals attacking planes, which they use either as a means of evasion or for ransom. Australia’s aviation authorities have begun to introduce measures aimed at addressing the safety of passengers and the cargo they carry. Designated boards and services cooperate with the government to reduce the likelihood of these hazards. Most of the precautions ensure a positive passenger experience when boarding planes, but airlines also benefit from such initiatives because people tend to trust those carriers that provide security. By ensuring that its products and services are risk-free, the aviation industry can maintain confidence in the broader transport sector.
References
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