Colorado Springs Airport Rates Security For 9/11 Weekend

The monitoring of “a couple of issues” by federal authorities shouldn’t interfere with passenger traffic in and out of the Colorado Springs Airport during the weekend of the 9/11 anniversary, director Mark Earle said Friday.

Earle said the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security are investigating information received through their agencies regarding potential threats to air travel around the country, and that the “issues” are separate from the credible threat to the East Coast that remains under investigation.

The “issues” don’t specifically involve the airport in Colorado Springs, said Earle. He also said all major airports have operated at a higher security level for several years because aviation has an ongoing threat from terrorists. However, Earle said, the local airport won’t have additional staff on duty or extra security measures in place.

“We could accomplish a lot more,” said Earle. “We could make security a lot tighter. But we balance that with what the public is willing to expect.”

Earle advised passengers to fly as they normally would. Several passengers appeared to be doing exactly that on Friday.

“I’m heading back to Des Moines, Iowa, for a wedding,” said traveler Kelly Lane. “I realize my return flight is on 9/11. But I feel pretty comfortable. I expect to be searched.”

“I haven’t really noticed anything (to worry about),” said passenger Frank Castaldo. “I’m traveling from upstate New York and headed for Leadville. I flew out of Albany this morning and through Chicago.”

The DHS and the TSA formed after the terrorist attacks, assuming responsibility for airport security that was shared by airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration.