Jet Crash On Stadium Was Olympics Nightmare

Jet Crash On Stadium Was Olympics Nightmare

by Jacquelin Magnay
The Sydney Morning Herald
September 20, 2001
http://old.smh.com.au/news/0109/20/world/world20.html

A fully loaded, fuelled airliner crashing into the opening ceremony before a worldwide television audience at the Sydney Olympics was one of the greatest security fears for the Games, the Olympic Security Commander, former chief superintendent Paul McKinnon, says.

Mr McKinnon said that Osama bin Laden had been the number one threat.

The combined security forces had also prepared for marine hijackings or a hijacked plane smashing into the central business district.

Mr McKinnon said there was a constant aviation security overlay during the Games if a hijacked or wayward plane strayed into restricted airspace.

"We did not have the authority to shoot at it, but the plan was to run something in its path and we had a collection of aircraft in the sky at any time ready for that.

The International Olympic Committee reaffirmed yesterday that the 2002 Winter Olympic Games would be held in Salt Lake City next February. Salt Lake City is spending $US200 million ($400 million) on security.

IOC officials said the scenario of a plane crash during the opening ceremony was uppermost in their security planning at every Olympics since terrorists struck in Munich in 1972.

"In our own assumptions for every Games, regardless of the tragedy of September 11, the scenario catastrophe has always been incorporated," the IOC director-general, Mr FranÇois Carrard, said.

Mr Carrard said the format for Games security has not changed but it would be reviewed. The IOC has decided to hire independent security consultants to assess risks and give continuous advice.

The IOC is also looking at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games security, which is to cost $US600 million and involve the co-operation of seven countries.

The Olympics faces constant threats from the local terrorist organisation, November 17, which has killed 22 people since 1975.

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