The search is still very much underway for the whereabouts of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. But we can say one thing for certain. Malaysia Airlines and its codeshare partner, China Southern Airlines, may have the worst security of any airlines in Asia and probably the world. Two of the passengers somehow managed to get on that plane with stolen passports.
For those who haven't followed the story, let's review. China Southern sold a ticket for this flight to someone using an Austrian passport, and another ticket to someone using an Italian passport. According to CNN, the numbers on both tickets were contiguous, meaning they were bought on the same day and within a few minutes of each other. Both of the passports had been reported stolen--the Austrian one in 2012 and the Italian one in 2013, according to the New York Times. Both were listed in Interpol's database. And yet, it doesn't look like China Southern checked the passports when the tickets were purchased. Nor does it look like Malaysia Airlines checked them when the two passengers checked in.
With good reason, security experts around the world are gobsmacked. And for good reason. This wasn't a puddlejumper operation at a podunk airport. We're talking about two of the largest airlines in the world, at a major international airport. And may I add, 13 years after 9-11. Even if there was no foul play involved in the disappearance of this flight, is it too early to demand answers from these two airlines--and to demand that heads roll? I certainly don't think so. After all, for a few hours two families were worried sick--and all because of an inexcusable lapse in security. Under the circumstances, the international community should demand a full accounting from both airlines--and that heads roll.