A Dangerous Precedent' It was precisely that prospect that alarmed some aviation lawyers and security experts.

Several aviation lawyers said yesterday that their offices had been besieged with calls from families concerned about missing that deadline.

"That number of service difficulty reports on metal fatigue would not be unusual for a plane of this age," said Kenneth Quinn, an aviation lawyer in Washington.

He became a noted aviation lawyer and served as general counsel of the American Aeronautical Association.

"It's adjusted, like any other claim would be," said Emmet Schwartzman, an aviation lawyer with Carlton Fields, a Florida firm that represents airlines.

"Consumers will gladly pay a surcharge for security," said Mary Schiavo, an aviation lawyer who is the former inspector general at the Transportation Department.

The Transportation Department's decision came in a complaint brought by Donald L. Pevsner, an aviation lawyer and consumer advocate.

"It's certainly not a wake," said Patricia A. Moores, an aviation lawyer who is stepping down as president of the association.

James P. Kreindler, an aviation lawyer representing the survivors, said he could not account for what had happened in the Moussaoui trial.

"We are deeply ashamed," said Dieter Neupert, an aviation lawyer and a colonel in the Swiss Air Force who flies helicopters.