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29 December 2003

U.S. May Request Marshals on Flights of International Carriers

Intelligence on threats to individual flights will determine requests

By Andrzej Zwaniecki
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- The United States may request international airlines to place trained sky marshals on board passenger and cargo planes flying within U.S. airspace, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge says.

Speaking December 29 to reporters, Ridge said U.S. authorities will in selected cases require the presence of armed law enforcement officers of a carrier's home country on board international airliners flying to, from or over the United States. Such requests will be based on advance intelligence information on terrorist threats related to specific flights, he said.

Ridge said that the new measure goes into effect immediately.

He said the that while no specific request has been made so far the action is meant to put governments and airlines of other countries on notice that such demands may be forthcoming.

"We are asking international air carriers to take this protective action as part of our ongoing effort to make air travel safe for Americans and visitors alike," Ridge said.

Plain-clothes sky marshals are already present on selected domestic and international flights of U.S. carriers to prevent or thwart terrorist attacks. The new measure gives the U.S. government the authority to request similar deployments on flights of international airlines.

In the week of December 21, the French authorities cancelled six Air France flights between Paris and Los Angeles on security concerns raised by U.S. intelligence agencies.

Praising the French government for its "immediate" response to U.S. concerns, Ridge said the decision was "appropriate."

The same week the Bush administration elevated its terror alert level from yellow to orange, which indicates a high risk of terrorist attacks. Ridge said that protective measures related to the orange level are likely to be kept through the holiday season, and "maybe beyond it."

He said his department is working with Congress on improving the security alert system.

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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