Delta, United, American and other airlines sued the CIA and the FBI yesterday, asking a federal court to let them interview investigators who can tell whether the aviation industry was to blame for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks or whether it had acted reasonably.

The separate lawsuits in U.S. District Court demand the access so the airlines can build their defense against suits brought by families of victims of the 2001 attacks.

A Victim Compensation Fund established by Congress has paid more than $7 billion to families of those who died and the surviving injured. But 42 victims chose to take their chances in court cases rather than take money from the fund.