Emerging Aviation Security Threat: Insider Threats
Emerging Aviation Security Threat: Insider Threats One of the most concerning emerging threats in the aviation industry is the insider threat—individuals with authorized access to sensitive areas of airports and aircraft who use their position to exploit vulnerabilities. These individuals can include airport staff, maintenance crews, baggage handlers, or even airline employees. What makes insider threats particularly dangerous is that these individuals already bypass many initial security screenings, giving them an advantage over external attackers. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employs a multi-layered security strategy to mitigate this threat, incorporating both visible and invisible security measures. Layers such as random employee screening, behavioral detection officers, security identification display area (SIDA) access controls, and covert surveillance help reduce the risk (TSA, n.d.). Each layer is designed to act as a barrier—if one fails, others are in p...