Airline Security PDF

Airline Security • Main security issues that airlines must be prepared to handle are: ❑ ❑ ❑ Air rage Hijack Bomb threat Air Rage • Air rage is aggressive behavior by an airline passenger that endangers the safety of the crew or other passengers. Air Rage • Factors which may contribute to air ra...

Airline Security • Main security issues that airlines must be prepared to handle are: ❑ ❑ ❑ Air rage Hijack Bomb threat Air Rage • Air rage is aggressive behavior by an airline passenger that endangers the safety of the crew or other passengers. Air Rage • Factors which may contribute to air rage include: ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Intoxication (alcohol, narcotics or medications). Irritation with other passengers’ actions on board e.g. kicking in seats, sharing armrest or hygiene. Frustration linked with the passenger’s journey e.g. long haul flights, inability to smoke, dissatisfied with customer service. Mental breakdowns/episodes e.g. acute anxiety or panic attacks. Mental conditions Personal differences amongst passengers and/or crew others members Lack of medication or alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Emotional triggers originating outside the flight e.g. loss of jobs, break up in relationships. Measures Against Air Rage • Airlines can adopt the following measures to prevent and limit the repercussions of air rage: ❑ ❑ ❑ Refuse transport to a person if their actions or statements, prior to boarding, indicate that they present a risk to the safety of the aircraft, persons or property. Report all instances of air rage. This will send a signal that such unruly behavior will not be tolerated. Restrain the unruly passenger or carry out emergency landing (Captain’s decision). Handling An Unruly Passenger • Other than physical measures, verbal de-escalation can be used to diffuse the situation. This technique allows the cabin crew to: ❑ Give the unruly passenger the opportunity to vent his/her anger. ❑ Remain calm and show empathy. ❑ Ask for specific reason for the passenger’s anger. ❑ Ask the passenger for his/her wishes and solutions. ❑ Explain the consequences of continuing with his/her actions. ICAO Threat Levels For Unruly Behaviour • Level 1 – Disruptive behavior (verbal) ❑ ❑ ❑ Use of profanity Not following crew instructions or challenging authority Violation of safety regulation • Level 2 – Physically abuse behavior ❑ ❑ ❑ Deliberating damaging aircraft or any property on board Verbal threats Physically abusive behaviour towards a crew member • Levels 1 and 2 are mostly behaviours that would be considered safety hazards. ICAO Threat Levels For Unruly Behaviour • Level 3 – Life- threatening behavior (or display of a weapon): ❑ ❑ Threat, display or use of weapon Physical or assault with an intention to injure • Level 4 – Attempted or actual breach of the flight crew compartment: ❑ ❑ ❑ Attempt or unauthorized intrusion into the flight deck Sabotage of or the attempt to sabotage an aircraft Attempt to unlawfully seize control of the aircraft • Level 3 and 4 behaviours are very serious security threats that would impact flight safety. Montreal Protocol 2014 • Previously, under the Tokyo Convention, only the State of Registration of the Aircraft has jurisdiction over the unruly passenger. Therefore, if the passenger is offloaded in a country, other than the State of Registration, the unruly passenger is unlikely to be prosecuted. • The Montreal Protocol 2014 gives the State of Landing the right to prosecute unruly passengers following a flight diversion. • The Protocol also gives airlines the right to seek compensation for any costs incurred due to the behaviour of the unruly passenger e.g. cost of flight diversion. Essential skills of cabin crew In order to handle unruly passengers, cabin crew need to be able to • Identify factors that contribute to unruly behavior • Communicate to flight crew the type and level of the threat • Demonstrate self-defense skills and use of protective devices • Identify able-bodied passengers for assistance • Be aware of the situation and make decisions Air Marshals • An air marshal is an undercover law enforcement or counter terrorist agent on board a commercial aircraft to counter aircraft hijackings. • Flight crew and cabin crew are notified of the presence and identity of the air marshal if there is one deployed on their flight. • Air marshals must operate independently without backup, and rank among those law enforcement officers that hold the highest standard for handgun accuracy. • They blend in with passengers and rely on their training, including investigative techniques, criminal terrorist behavior recognition, firearms proficiency, aircraft specific tactics, and close quarters self-defense measures to protect the flying public. Air Marshals • Airlines are required by law to provide seats for air marshals on flights when a demand is made, regardless of the availability of seats. • Air marshals of a country are deployed where there is reason to believe that a passenger flight to be performed by aircraft registered in that country presents high security risks. Objections to having air marshals • Air Marshals are not universally embraced by the airline industry because: ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Having guns aboard airplanes increases, rather than decreases, the likelihood of innocent people getting hurt. Accidental shootings could happen. In the worst-case scenario, a team of unarmed hijackers could overpower an air marshal and find themselves with a bonus weapon in their hands. Passengers and crew might be reluctant to confront a hijacker if they believed an air marshal was on board. Air marshals are not deployed on every flight because of the large manpower requirement and associated costs. Response To Bomb Threats Inflight • When Captain of a flight is informed of the presence of a bomb on board, he/she should do following: ❑ ❑ ❑ Get the crew to conduct a search discreetly so as not to alarm the passengers. Divert aircraft to the nearest airfield where a safe landing can be executed and land the aircraft as soon as possible. The flight route to the airfield should avoid densely populated areas if possible. Seek advice from explosive experts on the ground if an immediate landing cannot be made. Response To Bomb Threats Inflight • If a suspected bomb is found: ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ It should not be moved, touched or opened. If it really needs to be moved, move to a location where possible detonation would cause least harm to the aircraft. Passengers should be moved as far as possible from the suspect object. They should be instructed to fasten their seat belts and keep their heads below the tops of the seat. Portable oxygen, bottles of alcohol and first aid kits should be removed from the vicinity. Fire extinguishers should be readily available. Descend the aircraft to an altitude that does not require cabin pressurization.