Aug. 10, 2006

A Whole New Fear Of Flying

The Foiled Terrorist Attack Has Made A Lot Of Travelers Nervous

  • Play CBS Video Video A Renewed Fear Of Flying

    News of the airline bombing plot arrests in London touched off jitters among air travelers in the U.S. Kelly Cobiella spoke with some about their renewed fear of flying.

  • Video New Rules Snarl Air Travel

    Drew Levinson reports on new security measures for air travel and the massive lines they've triggered at airports across the country.

  • Video Airport Security Intensifies

    Airport security teams are on high alert after 21 people were arrested in London for allegedly plotting to blow up planes headed for the U.S. Charlie D'Agata reports.

  • Michelle Provost wasn't flying on Thursday, but she was worried about her niece after the terror bomb plot arrests in London.

    Michelle Provost wasn't flying on Thursday, but she was worried about her niece after the terror bomb plot arrests in London.  (CBS)

  • Photo Essay Targeted For Terror

    British authorities thwart terrorist plot to blow up aircraft in flight between the U.K. and U.S.

  • Timeline In Terror's Wake

    A look at the major developments following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

  • Interactive America On Guard

    The Homeland Security Department, the terror alert system, preparedness quiz and more.

(CBS)  It's been nearly five years since the 9/11 attacks, and many Americans may have forgotten about the dangers of air travel and the anxiety that goes with it. News of the airline bombing plot brought those fears back in a big way, reports CBS News correspondent Kelly Cobiella.

Michelle Provost wasn't even flying on Thursday, but she was still worried.

"I have a 14-year-old niece coming in and she has flying anxiety and she's in the midst of this today," Provost says. "Hopefully her mom is shielding her from whatever's going on."

It was hard to avoid. Overnight, the basics — from medicine cabinets and makeup bags — were treated like potential tools of terrorists.

Even so, for some people, the scariest part was traveling without essentials. Ellen Katz and her daughters were headed to the beach.

"I'm more anxious about waiting in this line with a 5- and a 3-year-old than anything else," she says with a laugh. "But I guess we're going to be more secure today than maybe we were yesterday, so that's what we're hoping."

But underneath all those brave faces was a familiar sense of unease.

"Maybe we weren't supposed to let down our guard," Provost says.

Does this shake the faith of people?

"Certainly it does," Texas pastor Andy McQuitty says. "Unfortunately it does. But in shaking a person's faith, it may mean reestablishing it upon firmer foundations."

McQuitty sees it in his congregation with every reminder of the 9/11 attacks.

"There are all sorts of collateral damages that are done in this world by the actions and choices of evil people," he says. "We have to live in this world plowing through the wake of that evil."

The Provost family's hugs lasted a little longer today, a celebration for a trip that nearly didn't happen

"As a parent, you don't know what to do," says Gaylyn Reilly, Provost's sister. "At some point, I wondered if I should fly with them today. I can't believe I'm crying, but it was emotional — because at some point, you’re thinking 'should I put them on the plane?' But we're here, and I'm just tired."


©MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Add a Comment
by sd51501 August 11, 2006 4:31 AM EDT
This so-called terror alert is another hoax perpetrated by the U.S. and British governments to put fear in the people and hoodwink them into trading in freedom for security. The security measures at airport are utterly ridiculous and do nothing to enhance security. They are just conditioning us to be obedient slaves for a one world government nightmare thats coming soon to a city near you.
Reply to this comment

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