The K-9 program began as a response to which incident?

• A. The Lockerbie bombing in 1988.
• B. JFK Bomb threat 1972 - American Airlines called local K-9 explosive detection and discovered a bomb.
• C. The 9/11 attacks.
• D. The Madrid train bombings.

Answer: (B)

The main idea tested is how specialized detection capabilities in security staffing began to form. The K-9 explosive detection program started after a bomb threat at JFK in 1972, when American Airlines contacted local K-9 teams and a dog alerted to a bomb, leading to its discovery. This incident demonstrated the effectiveness of trained dogs for rapid, on-site explosive screening in aviation, prompting the development and formal adoption of K-9 bomb-detection units. Other events like the Lockerbie bombing, 9/11, or Madrid bombings influenced security practices over time, but the JFK incident is what sparked the creation of these canine programs in the first place.