Amid Brussels Attack, James Hahn Shares Plan He Pitched For LAX When He Was Mayor

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — When suicide bombers this week turned an airport in Brussels into what looked like a war zone, there was little to stop them.

In fact, a Taxi driver had dropped them off at the departure level, where there was little security.

At Los Angeles International Airport, there are concerns the same thing could happen, which is a fear former Mayor James Hahn and his administration raised after 9/11.

Back then, he pitched a new plan for LAX.

"Let's screen people as far away from the airport as we can instead of right when they're almost at the gate," said Hahn.

A diagram shows Hahn's vision at LAX where passenger drop-off traffic would be banned.

"All the screening, security screening would happen out here," said Hahn, suggesting that a people mover would then transport passengers into the airport.

Even though Hahn's plan faced opposition from the Rand Corporation, it was ultimately approved.

But Hahn lost re-election and the new master plan for LAX changed.

LAX published a video last month, which shows an emphasis on a new people mover system designed to reduce traffic.

The plan shares many similarities to Hahn's plan, but with one key difference:

"They're still going to allow passenger traffic to come in here," said Hahn. "They still envision the parking lots and people being able to drive in there as well."

Hahn does not believe his plan would necessarily stop a terrorist attack but it might help save some lives.

"If you can design something with security in mind from the get-go, you can put all those components into it so you make it safer," he said.

CBS2 reached out to the mayor's office as well as LAX for comment on Hahn's comments, but has not heard back from either office.