- WASHINGTON -- An aggressive
new approach to security is threatening chaos in international flights
to the US - with planes being refused permission to land or diverted for
rescreening of passengers and cargo.
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- The US, which is on the second-highest security alert
status after warnings of planned terrorist attacks, has already shown its
determination to enforce new airline security rules.
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- These include ordering a Mexi-can passenger jet to turn
around mid-flight and imposing landing restrictions on at least six other
incoming flights in the past week.
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- The airline security crackdown was part of an unprecedented
security operation in which sharpshooters, warplanes and thousands of police
were mobilised to thwart any attack on celebrations from New York to Las
Vegas.
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- Officials were so worried about possible attacks on at
least five foreign flights that landed in the US - including in Washington
and Los Angeles - that they took the aircraft to remote locations away
from the main terminals and re-screened the passengers before allowing
them to leave.
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- In addition, F-16 fighters have shadowed some flights
of Air France and other airlines arriving at US cities, including Los Angeles,
a Bush Administration official said. The Australian Government and Qantas
say there have been no reported incidents of flights from Australia being
among those followed.
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- The US has been on "high risk" terrorist alert
since December 21 and the security moves, along with the cancellation of
several Christmas Eve flights by Air France to US airports, reflect an
aggressive new approach by the Administration because of hijacking concerns.
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- In the case of a flight this week from Mexico, a Transportation
Security Administration inspector based there told officials in the US
that passengers boarding a flight for the US had not been properly screened,
Government officials said.
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- One official said US transportation officials then told
the airline: "You said there were procedures in place for that flight
that weren't there. Turn it around."
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- The airline then agreed to return the aircraft to Mexico
and re-screen the passengers, and the US authorities allowed the flight
to complete its scheduled route once they were assured the security concerns
had been addressed, the official said.
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- Officials refused to disclose the city of origin or the
itinerary for the flight, citing diplomatic and national security concerns.
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- In Washington, a British Airways Boeing 747, carrying
247 passengers and 17 crew, was detained on arrival at Dulles airport late
on Wednesday and held on the tarmac for further screening. Local reports
said those on board were ferried to the terminal building about three hours
later.
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- "There are a number of passengers on that British
Airways flight that law enforcement officials wanted to speak with,"
an FBI spokeswoman said.
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- Passengers were given no reason for the re-screening.
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- Earlier this week, the US put foreign airlines on notice
that they would be denied entry to US airspace if they refused to put armed
air marshals on any incoming flights of concern.
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- Officials said the use of marshals was one of several
steps being taken to meet rising concerns about overseas flights. Negotiations
are under way between Australia and the US to have marshals on board US-
and Canada-bound Qantas flights within a month.
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- In addition, US officials said that in the past week
they had significantly increased inspection of air cargo on foreign flights.
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- And US officials disclosed on Wednesday that in the wake
of the Air France cancellations, the French had agreed to give to US officials
passenger manifest lists for any flights thought to be suspicious at least
one hour before take-off, rather than waiting until the flight is in the
air, as is now normally done.
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- American officials said they wanted to use that agreement
as a model for ensuring tighter international aviation security in other
nations as well.
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- - The New York Times, Reuters
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- Copyright © 2004 The Sydney Morning Herald.
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- http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/01/01/1072908856759.html
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