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.