ICAO said the victims of the attacks must be honoured by ensuring that similar events cannot happen again. The attacks killed 2,977 people and resulted in wider and continuing consequences for many others.
The attacks exposed changes in the global threat environment that required rapid action from the international aviation security community.
Existing international treaties, including the Tokyo Convention, the Hague Convention and the Montréal Convention, had been established to address security threats including aircraft hijacking and sabotage. Within two weeks of the attacks, representatives from 169 countries met at the International Civil Aviation Organization headquarters in Montréal and unanimously adopted an Assembly Resolution condemning the use of aircraft as weapons and calling for urgent international cooperation to prevent future terrorist acts against civil aviation.
The subsequent work led to the preparation and adoption of the Beijing Convention and Beijing Protocol in 2010. The instruments criminalised additional forms of attack, addressed biological and chemical threats, and covered organisers and financiers of unlawful acts. They also strengthened mechanisms for cross-border cooperation, investigation and extradition, while addressing emerging cyber vulnerabilities.
ICAO and its Member States also revised the technical and regulatory framework established under the 1944 Chicago Convention and its Annexes. A new global security plan established strategic priorities for Member States to structure and coordinate aviation security measures, while the ICAO Universal Security Audit Programme was introduced to monitor implementation and provide assistance where required.
ICAO said the effectiveness of international treaties and technical Standards depends on their implementation by individual States.
While treaties adopted during the 1970s have achieved near-universal ratification, fewer than one-third of ICAO’s Member States have ratified the Beijing Convention and Protocol. ICAO said broader adherence to the instruments is necessary to maintain legal frameworks in line with changing risks and identified this as a major area of advocacy.
Other United Nations bodies specialising in counter-terrorism and crime have also contributed to integrating aviation security into the wider international counter-terrorism framework.
The framework includes United Nations Security Council resolutions calling on States to cooperate with ICAO in securing airports and flights. It also requires States to collect and use Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record data to identify and disrupt the movement of terrorist fighters. These requirements are reflected in ICAO standards and guidance.
International cooperation is also being applied to emerging threats, including the terrorist use of unmanned aircraft systems.
ICAO said continuous review of aviation security measures is required as threats evolve. Cybersecurity, insider threats and the misuse of unmanned aircraft systems are among the challenges creating new regulatory and operational requirements.
Other risks identified include navigation interference, supply chain breaches and risks to civil aviation associated with conflict zones. ICAO said these and other forms of disruption require flexible responses.
The organisation also highlighted differences in the ability of States to meet international Standards, noting that security gaps in one jurisdiction can have consequences across the wider aviation system.
Strengthening national capabilities requires continued investment in training, expertise and technology, together with independent oversight. ICAO conducts mandatory audits of its Member States and provides capacity-building support to address identified issues.
ICAO also said it remains committed to ongoing, evidence-based reform, including the removal of rules when they become outdated.
The current aviation security framework has developed through years of multilateral changes and remains subject to further development. ICAO said that, despite progress achieved to date, the framework must continue to advance to prevent loss of life.
ICAO’s strategic vision for 2050, covering the next 25 years of air transport, foresees air transport for all while targeting zero fatalities and net zero carbon emissions.
According to ICAO, eliminating fatalities resulting from unlawful acts of interference in civil aviation requires continued cooperation among governments and their agencies, business leaders throughout the air transport industry and connected sectors, the United Nations system and other international organisations, including ICAO.
ICAO said achieving this objective would represent the highest honour for the victims of the 9/11 attacks and all other attacks against civil aviation worldwide.
Tags: ICAO
