A new framework for identifying aviation threat actors: behavioral awareness and operational role-based classification
摘要
Current civil aviation security models tend to focus narrowly on passengers or insider threats, often ignoring the cognitive state of individuals or their potential exploitation without full awareness. This conceptual gap limits the precision of early threat detection and reduces the effectiveness of preventive strategies. A classification model was developed by combining behavioral awareness with the operational roles of individuals present in airport settings. The framework includes categories such as naïve actors, partially aware proxies, non-suicidal operatives, and suicide attackers, and extends beyond passengers to include meeters, airport personnel, and observers. The model offers a layered perspective on threat formation. It draws on documented cases and reflects practical profiles observed in aviation incidents. Its structure allows for the identification of both deliberate and manipulated individuals, improving the reach of behavioral profiling protocols. The classification system enhances strategic and operational responses by introducing a more nuanced typology. It lays the groundwork for integration into surveillance and screening systems and supports efforts to identify hybrid and non-obvious threats at early stages.