Balpa up in arms over sky marshalls
The British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) said it was contemplating strike action in the wake of Government plans to use armed officers.
Balpa spokesman Jim McAuslan last night said having firearms on board UK airlines was a “lethal cocktail.”
“Firearms and pressurised cabins do not mix,” he said.
‘We believe that you may minimise one risk of terrorism and increase the risk to flight safety.
‘We think having guns on aircraft is a bit of a lethal cocktail.
‘We’d rather not have guns on aircraft at all.’
Transport Secretary Alistair Darling said armed officers would be placed on board flights where ‘appropriate’, and the issue was one of many under consideration.
He said undercover guards would be placed on some planes in response to the “heightened state of alert in the USA.”
“[T]he deployment of sky marshals is one part of a wide range of measures, we believe is necessary.
‘We also are talking about increased security at check-in, screening of luggage and so on.
The US Homeland Security Department said it would require foreign airlines flying to and from America to have “a law enforcement officer on the plane” on certain occasions.
