Burnett said criminal investigations will be launched quickly to see whether there is a common thread in the apparent breaches of security that allowed terrorists aboard the planes.
If there is, it is likely to be plugged quickly, he said. "However, I think it's safe to say that with the level of sophistication, there may be additional types of breaches that have been identified."
Burnett said these terrorist acts will likely spur intense security and there could be substantial disruption of transportation for some time.
"The American people are going to have to be prepared to be patient and to have a level of unity, the kind of unity they had after Dec. 7, 1941," he said, referring to the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Poteat said the hijackings will lead to much tighter security on planes, including the possibility of putting armed marshals on planes again.
Armed marshals were used on planes a few decades ago after a series of hijackings to Cuba.
"The measures to protect ourselves are extremely expensive," Poteat said. "It's going to restrict our way of life, our travel."
Kathleen Flynn, who lost her son in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988 said: "How in God's name were they able to hijack that many aircraft? Where was the security? I really want to know. It's going to change how America lives, we can never become this vulnerable again."
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