NTSB · Safety Recommendation
Safety Recommendation A-75-004
Recommendation
EXPEDITE THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF SUITABLE EXPLOSIVES DETECTION EQUIPMENT TO PRECLUDE THE INTRODUCTION OF EXPLOSIVE DEVICES ON BOARD AN AIRCRAFT.
Safety Issue and Context
ON SEPTEMBER 8, 1974, TRANS WORLD AIRLINES FLIGHT 841, A B-707-331B, CRASHED IN THE IONIAN SEA, ABOUT 50 MILES WEST OF CEPHALONIA, GREECE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A FLIGHT FROM TEL AVIV, ISRAEL, TO NEW YORK, NEW YORK, WITH SCHEDULED STOPS IN ATHENS, GREECE, AND ROME, ITALY. THE RESULTS OF THE LABORATORY EXAMINATION OF CERTAIN ITEMS IN THE RECOVERED FLOTSAM ESTABLISH CONCLUSIVELY THAT THE DETONATION OF A HIGH ORDER EXPLOSIVE TOOK PLACE IN THE AIRCRAFT'S AFT CARGO COMPARTMENT.
Response History
October 1, 1975 · NTSB Correspondence · FAA
Closed--acceptable action.
April 16, 1975 · Recipient Response · FAA
FAA LTR: THE FAA RECOGNIZES THE NEED FOR AN EXPLOSIVE DETECTION SYSTEM IN AVIATION SECURITY AND HAS AN ON-GOING EXPLOSIVE DETECTION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. ALL TECHNIQUES THAT HAVE A POSSIBILITY OF BEING EFFICIENT IN THE DETECTION OF EXPLOSIVES ARE BEING PURSUED AS FAST AS POSSIBLE UNDER CURRENT AVAILABLE RESOURCES. SYSTEMS USING CONCEPTS SUCH AS EXPLOSIVE VAPOR DETECTION, NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE, THERMAL NEUTRON ACTIVATION, X-RAY ABSORPTION AND TAGGING OF EXPLOSIVES ARE CURRENTLY UNDER STUDY.