Highlights
-Report states thousands of foreign students have received US flight school training without undergoing proper TSA screening
-TSA refutes these claims, stating that all foreign students are adequately screened
-Significant improvements in the government’s screening of foreign students interested in flight training have been made since the September 11 attacks
In late February 2008, ABC News published a report warning that thousands of foreign students have been permitted to train in US flight schools without undergoing proper screening by officials from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
While it is likely that the number of non-US citizens who have been able to attend flight schools and receive Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot licenses without going through proper requirements is inflated, the recent reports highlight the ongoing vulnerabilities and security lapses that pose a risk to the US homeland.
Alien Flight Student Program
Under current US laws, specifically the Alien Flight Student Program, all flight schools regulated by the FAA are required to notify TSA when a foreign national requests permission to receive flight school training. It is also compulsory for the prospective student to submit a formal application that includes biographical information, security documents (i.e. visa, passport), fingerprints, and details about their desired training. Background checks are conducted on all of these applicants.
However, according to internal government documents obtained by ABC News, the recent report alleges that in thousands of cases foreign students have been able to receive training and obtain licenses without having the appropriate visas and without being fully screened by TSA.
The report also states that in February 2008, federal agents raided Anglo-American Aviation International, located in California, on suspicion of fraud and “misuse” of visas.
In response to the reports, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has declared its intention to hold hearings on the subject, in an effort to review potential security lapses and work to address the problem.
TSA Response
In an official statement, TSA responded to the “myth” that foreign citizens are undergoing flight training without proper screening, and stated that “each and every foreign national that applies for flight training at any FAA-certified school anywhere in the world is checked by TSA prior to beginning that training.”
Additionally, in a response posted on the TSA blog, the organization states that an analysis on the number of foreigners not checked by officials shows only 857 cases (significantly lower than the 8,000 stated by ABC News), and that all of these individuals held certificates prior to September 11, 2001—after which the new laws regulating flight schools were passed.
Report Sparks Concern
The recent ABC News report garnered significant attention; specifically as two of the September 11, 2001 hijackers—Mohamed Atta and Marwan Al-Shehhi—took a six-month training course at a flight school in Florida.
In May 2002, a US Department of Justice report indicated the government’s system for tracking foreign students was “significantly flawed.” Specifically, the “untimely” procedures at the then Immigration and Naturalization Service allowed Atta and Al-Shehhi to finish their flight course over six months before officials made a decision on whether they should be granted permission for the training.
Significant improvements in government screening processes of foreign students interested in flight training have been made since that time- specifically the Alien Flight Student Program. However, recent reports are concerning, as while there may not be 8,000 individuals who have received pilot licenses without proper screening, it only takes one ill-intentioned individual who is able to pass through to cause harm to the country. In light of this recent report, it is likely that the potential threat stemming from improper screening of flight school students will remain in the public eye for the near to mid-term. As such, it is necessary that security officials take the necessary precautions to prevent extremists from attending US flight schools.
