Overview
- Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the 2001 attacks, which prompted the creation of the TSA, reinforced cockpit doors, mandatory ID checks and more intensive screening.
- Recent changes include a new policy ending routine shoe removal at checkpoints, with officials publicly weighing adjustments to liquids limits.
- Airlines and the TSA have expanded facial recognition and other biometric systems since 2017, with adoption spreading internationally, including in India.
- Rules added after later threats remain, including the 3.4‑ounce liquids cap, a larger federal air marshal presence, and wider use of bomb‑sniffing dogs and cargo screening.
- Travel culture has been reshaped, with younger flyers knowing only the post‑9/11 environment and ongoing concerns about inconvenience and profiling persisting.