Passenger jets return to nation's skies after attacks

Associated Press WriterA few jetliners roamed the nation's skies Friday, carrying small numbers of edgy travelers as airlines resumed limited schedules three days after terrorists attack New York and Washington.

At the handful of major airports that reopened, passengers found long waits due to intense new security measures, including bans on seemingly every conceivable weapon -- even nail clippers and plastic knives. And there were numerous delays and cancellations.

In Boston, a few passengers showed up Friday morning with luggage at the still-closed Logan Airport after several airlines erroneously told passengers their flights would be leaving. Airport officials called the airlines and instructed them to tell passengers not to show up at Logan until the airport officially opened.

Logan was where terrorists boarded two jets that were hijacked Tuesday and crashed into the World Trade Center. The airport won't reopen until stricter safety measures are in place, Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Jane Garvey said. The airport was under investigation for possible security breaches before the attacks.

"There's going to be confusion on various fronts for the next few days," said Ron Wilson, spokesman for San Francisco International Airport.

At Los Angeles International Airport, people lined up at ticket counters as early as 4:30 a.m.

A few planes were flying Friday from the nation's second busiest airport, Chicago's O'Hare International. Airline workers offered help to travelers and the Red Cross passed out bananas, orange juice and breakfast biscuits.

Despite the delays and other problems, people waiting in a food court at Portland International in Oregon cheered as the first jet departed.

"People in this country have a hang-up about having their personal space invaded. But when you're in this situation, you have to sacrifice some of your individuality," said Kevin McArthur, a business consultant waiting at Denver International Airport for a flight to Chicago.

The New York area's three major airports -- Kennedy International, LaGuardia and Newark International -- had some landings on Thursday but then abruptly closed as the FBI detained at least 10 people of Middle Eastern decent for questioning. They were later cleared of any connection with the attack, authorities said, and the airports were reopened before noon Friday.

Washington's Reagan National Airport remained closed indefinitely. Washington-Dulles International Airport, the origin of the hijacked flight that hit the Pentagon, reopened on a limited schedule.

Officials at airports across the country said it could be late next week before commercial service is fully restored. Chances of getting a flight out of the nation's smaller airports remained slim Friday, and private flights were still banned.

Across the nation, travelers were met with long lines and delays.

Philadelphia International Airport was at half of normal operations Friday morning.

"We hope that stays for the rest of the day or gets better," airport spokesman Mark Pesce said. "It changes from moment to moment."

At the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, about 25 cots were set up with pillows, and some people were still sleeping at 8:50 a.m.

Before flights could begin operating, airports were required to implement new security measures, including banning curbside check-in and limiting access to ticketed passengers beyond security screening points.

Armed agents from the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Border Patrol and U.S. Customs were deployed at airport security checkpoints across the country.

"This is the kind of security you expect to see diplomats get before they board an airplane," said Michael Cheston, executive director of the Rhode Island Airport Corp. "That's what we're doing for the average citizen now. That's going to slow down everything."

On Thursday, Orlando International and a terminal at LaGuardia were briefly evacuated over separate, unfounded bomb scares.

And after briefly resuming limited service, Northwest Airlines canceled all flights Thursday evening amid security concerns.

"External information has come to our attention which indicated that it is not prudent to operate this evening," said Mary Beth Schubert, a Northwest spokeswoman. No other details were released.

But by 6 a.m. Friday, a few Northwest jets were back in the air.

One of the first passengers to arrive at Los Angeles International Airport after it reopened was "Baywatch" actress Angelica Bridges, whose flight from Italy had been diverted Tuesday to Canada. She said every person who boarded Thursday was searched and no bag was put on the plane until it was identified by a passenger.

"They're not going to let anything get through, not even a nail file," she said.

At Dallas-Fort Worth International, an American Airlines flight attendant wasn't allowed to board Thursday until security guards confiscated a corkscrew and meat thermometer.

At Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Sam Hemphill was among a dozen people lined up at a TWA ticket counter. He said he was uneasy about flying but wanted to get home to Jacksonville, Fla.

"Whatever happens, happens," Hemphill said. "You have to keep going. If you stop living life, they've won."

Some would-be passengers in Fargo, N.D., gave up on waiting and pooled their resources to buy a 1988 Cadillac for $800 for a planned drive to upstate New York.

"They said that the tickets were more than that," said Gene Gebeke, owner of All-City Auto Sales. "By the time they get home, they can resell the car and be ahead."

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