(CNSNews.com) – Just days before a Nigerian man tried to blow up a U.S. airliner as it descended into Detroit, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security released its “2009 Accomplishments & Reforms” fact sheet, touting its “Secure Flight” passenger vetting program.
The Obama administration has confirmed that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was on the U.S. government terrorist watch list, but the 23-year-old man was still able to board a Northwest plane in Amsterdam bound for Michigan.
On the DHS
fact sheet, issued on Dec. 15, the “Secure Flight” program is second on the list and is described as a program that “prescreens name, date of birth and gender against government watch lists for domestic and international flights.”
The “Secure Flight” program is explained in a press release posted on the Web site of the Transportation Security Administration, which is part of DHS.
The second phase of the program required some passengers to provide their birth date and gender when making reservations beginning in August 2009. The first phase – which took effect in May 2009 – required some passengers to provide their name “as it appears on government issued identification.” Both phases, according to the press release, would be fully implemented domestically by early 2010.
“This is the second publicly noticeable step in implementing the Secure Flight program, which shifts pre-departure watch list matching responsibilities from individual airlines to TSA,” the release states.
The “Secure Flight” program also does not apply to all passengers, the release states.
“If a passenger is not prompted to provide this additional information by a particular airline, they should not be concerned as it will not impact their travel,” the release states. “Since Secure Flight is a behind the scenes watch list matching process that happens before passengers arrive at the airport, current security checkpoint procedures remain the same.”
It has been widely reported, but not confirmed by the TSA, which did not respond to CNSNews.com by press time, that in light of the attack new regulations have been put into place, including one that would require passengers to remain in their seats for the last hour of a flight and not allow them access to carry-on luggage, laptop computers or other belongings.
But DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano said in a statement released on Dec. 26 that the passengers who left their seats were responsible for thwarting the attack.
“I am grateful to the passengers and crew aboard Northwest Flight (sic) 253 who reacted quickly and heroically to an incident that could have had tragic results,” Napolitano said.
The suspect was added to the government’s terrorist watch list after his father, Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, a prominent Nigerian banker, warned authorities that his son could pose a threat.
In remarks made Monday from Hawaii, where President Barack Obama and his family are vacationing, the president said that although Abdulmutallab was on a watch list he was not on the so-called “no fly list.”
Obama said he has ordered a review of the “overall watch list system and how it can be strengthened.”