What is the No Fly list?

The No Fly List is a database of people who are not allowed to board a commercial aircraft that will fly into, out of, over, or within United States airspace. While it is commonly referred to as a TSA list, this database is actually created and managed by other departments of the US government, and it is used primarily by the TSA and by airlines to prohibit an individual who may present a threat to civil aviation or national security from boarding a commercial aircraft that will fly within United States airspace.

Where does the No Fly list come from?
The No Fly list is a subset of a larger database managed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). This larger database, called the Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB) is the US Government's consolidated database containing the identity information of known or suspected terrorists. The information in the TSDB is based on information supplied by a wide range of US law enforcement agencies, US intelligence agencies, and intelligence agencies of US allies. From this database, the FBI creates and updates a number of security-related databases for other US government agencies, including the TSA.
Overview of the TSDB

How do people end up on the No Fly list?
In order to get on the No Fly list, a person would have to first be included in the TSDB. That will happen if a US government agency nominates a person for inclusion in the TSDB if there is reasonable suspicion that the person is known or suspected to be or have been knowingly engaged in conduct constituting, in preparation for, in aid of, or related to terrorism or terrorist activities. The US government does not provide the public with the precise criteria for including people in the TSDB, but does admit that there are different criteria for US citizens and for citizens of other countries.

What other lists do the TSA use?
In addition to the No Fly list, there is a separate database, also developed from the TSDB, called the Selectee list. This list includes names of individuals whom air carriers are required to "select" for additional screening prior to permitting them to board an aircraft. Based on the results of this additional screening, the person may not be able to board the aircraft.

How does the US government define a terrorist?
The Terrorist Screening Center, which is the FBI organization that manages TSDB, defines a "known terrorist" as an individual whom the US Government knows is engaged, has been engaged, or who intends to engage in terrorism or terrorist activity, including an individual who:

  • (a) who has been charged, arrested, indicted, or convicted for a crime related to terrorism by US Government or foreign government authorities; or
  • (b) identified as a terrorist or member of a designated foreign terrorist organization.

How many people are in the TSDB , No Fly list and Selectee lists?
While the US government does not publish a breakdown of who is currently on the list, but in 2009, a US Department of Justice (DOJ) report estimated that about 400,000 people in the TSDB . According to an August 2014 article in the online publication The Intercept, in 2013 there were about 680,000 in the TSDB (with over 95% of them non-US citizens), about 47,000 on the No Fly list, and about 16,000 in the Selectee list. The Intercept also reported that in 2009, due in part to public pressure, the list shrunk to as low as 4,000 people.

How do you know if you are on the No Fly list or the Selectee List?
The US government and the airlines do not reveal whether a particular person is on or not on a watchlist. A person would likely find out if he or she is on the No Fly list if they are unable to buy an airline ticket or get issued a boarding pass. A person may be selected for additional screening for any number of reasons, so it may not be clear to a passenger if the request happened because they were on the Selectee list.

How do you know if you are on the No Fly list or the Selectee List?
The US government and the airlines do not reveal whether a particular person is on or not on a watchlist. A person would likely find out if he or she is on the No Fly list if they are unable to buy an airline ticket or get issued a boarding pass. A person may be selected for additional screening for any number of reasons, so it may not be clear to a passenger if the request happened because they were on the Selectee list.

How do you get off the No Fly list or the Selectee List?
The US government does not reveal either how someone get on the No Fly or Selectee list or how to get removed from the list. However, passengers who have been denied or delayed airline boarding for security reasons can apply to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to have their status changed by submitting an application to the DHS Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP).
Overview of the DHS TRIP
DHS TRIP application

Signs that you are on the No Fly list or Selectee list
If your name is in the No Fly list, Selectee list, or in some other kind of security related US government database, one or more of the following may have happened to you:

  • You are always subjected to additional screening when going through an airport security checkpoint.
  • You were denied boarding.
  • The airline ticket agent stated that you are on a federal government watch list.
  • You were detained during your trip.
  • A ticket agent took you identification and called someone before handing you a boarding pass.
  • You missed a flight while attempting to obtain a boarding pass.
  • You are repeatedly referred for secondary screening when clearing customs and entering the US.
  • You are denied entry into the US.

Related Resources
U.S. Government Airline Safety Information
Acceptable identification for air travel
How to travel with large amounts of cash
How to travel with batteries
Transportation Security Administration

What is the TSA No Fy list?
http://airsafe.com/events/security/nofly.htm -- -- Revised 9 June 2015