Apr 8, 2010 - through March 31 for security reasons, according to ... There were 17 security diversions in the first ...
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Back on the trail
Flights diverted by alerts increase Rise reflects jitters since Dec. incident By Thomas Frank USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — The number of flights forced to land prematurely because of security alerts doubled in the first three months of this year compared with the same period in 2009, federal figures show. Thirty-five U.S. flights were diverted from their destination to a different airport from Jan. 1 through March 31 for security reasons, according to figures the Transportation Security Administration gave USA TODAY. There were 17 security diversions in the first three months last year, the TSA said. The diversions represent a tiny fraction of the By Susan Page 550,000 monthly commercial flights. But the growUSA TODAY ing number reflects a more tense atmosphere in airplanes since a passenger tried to blow up a plane ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Robert Ehrlich shouldn’t over Detroit on Christmas Day. The plane landed stand a chance in November’s rematch for safely, and no one was hurt. Maryland governor. “People are quick to react to anything that’s not He’s a Republican in a Democratic state, trynormal,” said Gary Boettcher, an American Airlines ing to regain the seat from the man who defeatpilot and former president of the Coalition of Airline ed him decisively four years ago. This time, Pilots Association, a pilots’ group focused on securithough, Ehrlich’s prospects could be boosted ty and safety. “Any assault on everyday procedures by a hard reality: Governors are under siege. is taken as a threat right away, so it can be nipped as During the nation’s economic downturn, soon as possible.” governors have faced tough choices: raising Airlines are concerned taxes, cutting services, downsizing campaign about the growing numLanding promises made during better times. Amid the ber of security diversions, elsewhere political upheaval that has followed, this year’s which can cost them tens elections already are guaranteed to produce the Number of flights of thousands of dollars if most new governors in 50 years. diverted for security passengers must be put reasons: That class of newcomers could include some on new flights to reach old-timers. Five ex-governors are trying to get 104 their destinations. their former jobs back. Their pitch: Are you “Diversions are expenbetter off than you were when I was in charge? 100 sive,” said David CastelveMaryland Gov. Martin O’Malley acknowlter of the Air Transport edges that recession-battered incumbents may 80 Association, an airline have a tough sell. “ ‘It could be a lot worse’ trade group. “Any time doesn’t make a great bumper sticker, does it?” 60 the safety of the passenhe said in an interview. gers and crew are at risk, In all, 37 states will elect governors in No40 a diversion is justified. vember for 19 seats now held by Democrats But we have to continue Kitzhaber, Brown, Branstad, 20 Ehrlich and Barnes photos by to work closely with the 35 Please see COVER STORY next page u AP; California state Capitol by Homeland Security DeAFP; boomerang by USA TODAY. 0 Illustration by Jim Sergent and partment to enhance our Mike Tsukamoto, USA TODAY ’05 ’101 security processes and to 1 – Through March 31 reduce the number of diSource: Transportation Security Administration versions.” Diversions can be orBy Julie Snider, USA TODAY dered by pilots concerned about an unruly passenger, or by federal authorities checking passenger backgrounds. Some backalmost everyone to rethink how to rebuild their ground information on international flights is home,” Bradley-Wright says. checked while a plane is in the air. Other U.S. cities are building energy-efficient, afOn Jan. 29, the TSA diverted a Newark-to-Bogota fordable housing. The Boston Housing Authority, for flight to Jacksonville after learning a “potential perBy Rick Jervis example, is getting $63 million in federal money for son of interest” was on board, the agency said at the USA TODAY energy-efficiency improvements, the largest pub- time. The FBI cleared the passenger. lic-housing project of its kind in U.S. history. But it’s “All security-related incidents are treated as genNEW ORLEANS — In this city on the mend, hun- rare for a city to develop so many sustainable and uine until verified otherwise,” TSA spokeswoman dreds of state-of-the-art, energy-efficient homes affordable single-family homes, Watson says. Kristin Lee said. Decisions about diversions are are being built in lower-income neighborhoods, a “What’s happening in New Orleans is incredibly made “as an incident is unfolding.” trend that’s outpacing most of the rest of the USA. impressive,” says Dana Bourland of Enterprise Flight crews also have overestimated passenger More than 500 green homes are being built with Community Partners, a Maryland-based non-profit threats. On Jan. 21, a US Airways Express captain features such as solar panels and rain-catching cis- that supports affordable housing efforts. landed a Louisville-bound flight in Philadelphia afterns in neighborhoods that received the brunt of New Orleans projects include: ter a flight attendant saw a passenger take out a set uFive green homes and an 18-unit apartment of small boxes and begin odd-looking rituals. The the damage from the 2005 floods following Hurricane Katrina. Hundreds of other homes are being complex in the Lower 9th Ward developed by Cali- passenger, a 17-year-old Orthodox Jew, was enfornia-based Global Green USA. given green upgrades. gaged in prayer using holy scrolls. uMore than 150 energy-efficient homes “New Orleans is certainly a leader in that regard,” A Qatari diplomat trying to smoke in an airplane says Suzanne Watson of the Washington-based planned for the Pontchartrain Park area, an effort restroom sparked a bomb scare Wednesday night American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. led by actor Wendell Pierce, a New Orleans native on a flight from Washington to Denver, forcing best known for his role in the HBO series The Wire. fighter jets to scramble, the Associated Press re“The scale . . . is remarkable.” u150 eco-friendly homes planned for the Lower ported, citing law enforcement officials who Green building has traditionally been left to higher-end homes, whose owners can afford the costlier 9th Ward by Make It Right, the initiative started by weren’t authorized to discuss the investigation. features, says Forest Bradley-Wright of the New Or- actor Brad Pitt. So far, 34 of the homes have been A 2007 government report said that two-thirds leans-based Alliance for Affordable Energy. But as built and range in price from $120,000 to $160,000. of in-flight security incidents involved unruly pasNew Orleans began to rebuild, non-profits stepped Energy bills are 75% lower than comparable homes, sengers. Many diversions this year were caused by in with innovative techniques to build eco-friendly says construction director Jon Sader. intoxicated passengers making threats, according to Resident Neal Dupar, 48, says his new Make It news reports of the incidents. homes in lower-income neighborhoods such as the Right home has slashed his energy and water costs Lower 9th Ward and Pontchartrain Park, he says. Last year, 15,500 flights were diverted, mostly to “The destruction caused by Katrina necessitated by $300 a month. “It’s helped a great deal,” he says. avoid bad weather, federal statistics show.
Amid upheaval, five ex-governors seek return
A legacy of Katrina: Green homes
Affordability, energy key Possible losers in in New Orleans rebuilding
House redistricting
Iowa
-1
La.
States that Mass. would N.Y. Mich. -1 -1 lose -1 House Pa. -1 -1 N.J. seats if Ohio Ill. Census -2 -1 2010 mirrors 2009 population estimates:
-1
Source: Analysis of Census data by Paul Overberg, USA TODAY By Anne R. Carey and Paul Trap, USA TODAY
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