What started the K-9 program?

• A. JFK Bomb threat 1972 - American Airlines called local K-9 explosive detection and discovered a bomb.
• B. A scheduled drill
• C. Heathrow incident
• D. The Madrid bombings

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how a real security need triggers a new approach. The JFK bomb threat in 1972, when American Airlines called in local K-9 explosive-detection teams and a bomb was found, shows the moment airlines saw dogs as a practical solution for rapid, on-the-spot explosive detection. That success spurred the creation and formalization of K-9 explosive-detection programs at airports, shaping how security screening evolved. The other options don’t fit because a routine drill wouldn’t drive lasting program adoption, and incidents at Heathrow or in Madrid pertain to different events and contexts that didn’t initiate the airline-specific K-9 program in the United States.