NYC-WTC_000230605

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document THE DAILY NEWS, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2001 NYC-WTC_000230605 ea saan PY 5 Snes fe gw —_ hoe LSS Le 7 a SS 5s ia ace a z ee a ee " Se ren , a noe “ u tgs 4 : WJ i persia : : ' i 4 ba 6 4 f h ie 2 . oe in oF. ree ed aeye ie i ahr Ee to oe i q pee te =a, Sy SHERRYL CONNELLY DAHLY NEWS STAFF WRITER Helghtened security meant longer airport check-in times yesterday, as U.S, marshals | joined beefed-up security forc- es al area airports, But some passengers report- ed il was more time-consuming elsewhere. Lynn Jones of Rohnart Park, Calif, who flew from San Francisco to Newurk, said, "There were a lot more po- hice in the airport there.” Airline security was a big focus in Washington yesterday as Congress debated requiring secure cockpits with bullet- proof doors and an increase in armed guards in airports and on planes. A bill being drafted by Sens. Ernest Hollings (D-5.C.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), and John Kerry (D-Mass.) is expected to ‘be introduced after tomorrow's Commerce Committee hearing on airport security. Af the nation’s airports, - sengers took quick notice of im: mediute changes: the elimina- tion of curbside check-in, the need to present tickets and pic- ture identification twice and the thorough nummaging of car: ty-on bags. Many took it in stride — and were grateful. “I'm glad for it. I don’! mind at all. This is our life,” Joseph LoMonaco of Brooklyn said yesterday at Kennedy Airport, having retumed from Luly with his wife, Phyilis. Accepts added security Ed McQuillan of the Rock- aways in Queens, who came in on the same Might as the LoMo- nacos, took the precaution of leaving his razor arid aérosol cans behind. “The security doesn't bother me at al) If they - continue to do thts, it will be ac- cepted and no one will notice.” Aliheugh many planes were in the air yesterday, many would-be travelers stayed on OENS CLARA UCU LYE 4 us. marshal surveys scone of American Alriines terminal at Kennedy Alport yesterday, Security at alrports has been beefed up in aftermath of terrorist attacks. Tightened airport security is shape of things to come the ground. Several passengers arriving in Newark reported yesterday that their flights were only a third to half-full. The Port Authoriry reported air traffic at ihe three major ares airports was running at about 50% of normal capacity. Amid the new emphasis on security, Some passengers had | items confiscated. Mary Hill of Queens, flying in from Fort Lau- derdale, fost her scissors and bug spray. “They went throw our bags and kept them,” she said. But perhaps the most dramat- ‘ic difference for some, and the Most forceful reminder of the heed for increased security, was what was missing. As Kevin Sullivan, arriving from San Francisco after vaca- lioning in Hawaii with his wife, Betsy, and three children, put i: “It's very difficult to fly into New York and not see the World Trade Center. That was disturbing.” - 7 CITY _21MC100_011829632