U.S. tightens security further on Asian flights
U.S. tightens security further on Asian flights
WASHINGTON (Reuter): The United States has ordered U.S.
airlines to further tighten security on flights in East Asia in
response to bomb threats directed at these flights, the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Sunday.
FAA spokeswoman Liz Neblet said the "unusually strong
measures" included increased searches of passengers and luggage
and a ban on gels, liquids and aerosols over one ounce -- such as
toothpastes and shaving creams -- in carry-on luggage.
Such substances could possibly conceal a hard-to-detect liquid
bomb, sources said.
The FAA first ordered U.S. airlines to increase security on
Jan. 10, after receiving reports from the Philippine government
that Moslem fundamentalists planned to put bombs on U.S. airlines
flying to and from East Asia.
The U.S. State Department on Saturday issued a new statement
saying Washington had decided to intensify security even more
after receiving "further, more detailed information concerning
these bomb threats".
But it stopped short of issuing an advisory warning passengers
against traveling or canceling any flights, saying, "The
increased security measures put in place are considered adequate
to counter these threats."
CBS News reported late on Sunday the increased security
measures were causing delays at airports in Manila, Bangkok,
Singapore, Hong Kong, Taipei, Seoul and Tokyo, and officials were
considering whether to expand the security measures to two dozen
additional Asian airports.
Neblet declined comment on the airports affected saying that
was a security matter. But she denied a CBS report that two
aircraft were forced to land to undergo searches, saying any
decision to land would have been taken by the airlines.
The State Department said that as an additional step to
protect U.S. and other travelers, the FAA had advised foreign
airlines that fly to the United States from East Asia of the
threats and of the additional security measures being performed
by U.S. airlines.
"We understand the additional security measures will cause
travelers some inconvenience. However, we believe they are
necessary to ensure passengers maximum possible security," it
said in a statement.
A U.S. embassy spokesman in Manila on Saturday said Washington
had flown bomb experts to Manila and other parts of Asia to guard
against the reported plot by Moslem militants.
The Philippine warning followed the arrest in Manila of at
least three people. Security officials had refused to give any
details or say whether alleged threats against the Pope, also
reported last week, and U.S. aircraft were linked.