Loophole in Flight School Background Checks Shocks Congress
A glaring loophole in counter terrorism emerged during a congressional hearing Wednesday into security lapses at the nation’s 935 accredited flight schools – U.S. citizens who are considered a terror threat and banned from flying on passenger airplanes can attend flight lessons without hindrance.
According to an article from The Los Angeles Times, U.S. citizens are screened against terrorism database only after flight training, when they apply for a pilot’s license. More than 550 U.S. citizens are on the no-fly list – a database kept by the FBI’s Terrorist Screening Center.