Flight school security hole remains a decade after 9/11, report finds

(CBS News) WASHINGTON - A lot has changed since the attacks on 9/11, but a report out Wednesday said there is still a hole in our security net.

The security hole was first exposed by the 9/11 hijackers. Investigators learned that, shortly before the attacks, three of the four al Qaeda pilots had taken flying lessons at U.S. flight schools.

Eleven years later, that vulnerability remains. A new government investigation reveals that between 2006 and 2011, U.S. flight schools continued to train some foreign students who had not undergone background security checks.

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Stephen Lord of the Government Accountability Office told Congress the exact number is secret.

"Some of the foreign nationals holding pilots licenses were not in the TSA's database indicating that some foreign nationals had not been vetted before receiving flight training and ultimately receiving pilots licenses," Lord said.

At one flight school, TJ Aviation near Boston, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in 2010 found 25 foreign students who were in the U.S. illegally taking flight lessons.

Three of them had already obtained FAA pilots licenses. One was certified to fly for an airline.

In addition, the owner of the school was in the country illegally. He managed to become certified as a cargo pilot and flight instructor without ever going through the required TSA security check.

The Government Accountability Office investigation also turned up another bizarre security loophole. Kerwin Wilson, who oversees flight school training for the TSA, said U.S. citizens on the no-fly list can still take flight lessons.

TJ Aviation is now out of business and records also show us that the TSA is getting better at vetting foreign students before they are admitted to U.S. flight schools. Officials, however, see the system is still no perfect and it's possible a terrorist looking for training could exploit the vulnerability.

[RecycledNews]

In case anybody wants to see the ORIGINAL investigative reporting that broke this story LONG ago.. and caused this GAO and the DHS-IG report before it (2011) and Congress and the media to finally pay attention...

Starting 6 years ago ... start here:

http://******/o9AdPE

CBS News (as usual) is bit later to the party.

Is recycled news really news? I don't think so.

But it's much less expensive to produce that's for sure.

[gltb]

When I went to work for the Federal Government, I was subjected to a background check including references and fingerprinting. When my son enlisted in the Navy, an agent came and interviewed my neighbors and myself as part of his background check.So why can anyone go to flight school without the same checks? How can they get a license without these same checks? What is the agency responsible for this doing,playing video games on their computers? What is the do-nothing Congress doing? They should stay in DC this summer and fix this immediately!! Terrorists have patience to learn the defects in our laws. They have money to buy planes. Another 9/11 is waiting in the wings.God help us!

[Martha12345]

I just feel so safe knowing the government is protecting US citizens. I, for one, don't trust my government at all.

[payasyougo]

Participation in flight schools is a symptom of our weak border policies. Stop treating the symptoms.

[payasyougo]

How can this be a concern with the Thousands Standing Around at the airports?

[Treborsenrab]

There is another side of this story. The International Association of Flight Training Professionals (IAFTP.org) is working with flight training organizations around the world to eliminate this problem which, by the way, is not unique to the U.S.

[missyfive]

We shouldn't be surprised that foreign nationals are here, attending flight schools and getting pilots licenses and aviation training. No one follows the our laws regarding immigration and our government doesn't prosecute the lawbreakers. 9/11 should have taught us a lesson but it looks like money trumps security.

[bahtat]

In San Diego County, There are 100's of foreign students at these flight schools. They fly their aircraft within 20 MILES OF THE BIGGEST NAVAL BASE ON THE WEST COAST as well as within 15MILES OF TWO MILITARY AIRPORTS. These schools should be NO CLOSER THAN 100 MILES TO THESE FACILITIES.

[bahtat]

In San Diego County, There are 100's of foreign students at these flight schools. They fly their aircraft within 20 MILES OF THE BIGGEST NAVAL BASE ON THE WEST COAST as well as within 15MILES OF TWO MILITARY AIRPORTS. These schools should be NO CLOSER THAN 100 MILES TO THESE FACILITIES.