The New York Times confirms that fighter jets have escorted Air France flights, as I posted yesterday.
Security concerns also caused a flight from Mexico to turn around in midair. The flight was forced to turn around because a Transportation Security Administration inspector based in Mexico told officials in the United States that passengers boarding a flight for the United States had not been properly screened.
Six planes were moved away from the main terminals upon landing and the passengers were rescreened.
CNN reports that British Airways Flight 223 from Heathrow Airport was held for three hours after landing at Dulles International Airport. Passengers on board were questioned before being allowed to leave.
According to the Times, officials disclosed Wednesday that after last week’s Air France cancellations, an agreement was reached this week with France imposing greater security on flights that American officials suspect may be at risk.
A key provision, the officials said, was that the French agreed to give to United States officials passenger 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. American officials said they wanted to use that agreement as a model for ensuring tighter aviation security in other nations as well. "
What we're trying to do is establish protocols to be able to vet these passenger lists before the flight takes off, and that's in the interests of both parties," said an American official involved in the agreement. "No one wants to be told when a flight is halfway across the Atlantic that it has to turn around."At first I thought this was an indication that we are making changes and finally getting serious about air security. Then I noticed that the CNN report included this:
A Homeland Security official said about a dozen planes a week undergo a "reverse screen," even when the country is not on high alert. Security was tight across the United States as millions joined New Year's Eve celebrations Wednesday evening.
Is all this just business as usual? I don't think so.
UPDATE: The Associate Press reports that British Airways flight 223 was cancelled today. Yesterday, flight 223 was kept on the tarmac at Washington Dulles International Airport for several hours after landing, while authorities questioned all passengers and crew.
CNN reports that yesterday's BA flight 223 was also escorted by fighter planes.
On Wednesday night, British Airways Flight 223 was escorted by fighter jets to Dulles after authorities said the names of about a dozen passengers appeared to match those on a terrorist watch list.Thanks to Robert Holcomb for the tip.
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