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CNN Live Today

Safety in the Skies?

Aired August 29, 2002 - 11:23   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Air marshals are supposed to be a critical firewall against any post-9-11 hijacking, but the federal agents are so overworked they're reportedly quitting in droves.
CNN's Kathleen Koch is at Reagan National Airport outside Washington this morning.

Hi there, Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.

Well, CNN has been reporting to this problem for weeks, speaking with the union, specifically reports border patrol lost some 700 of its agents to the ranks of air marshals, and they told CNN that some 90 percent of people who left their ranks aren't happy as air marshals. "USA Today" reporting that they are leaving jobs, the air marshals, at the rate of a dozen a week, that they are coming in sick in order to avoid some of the flights. Apparently, they are flying 10 days a week.

The Transportation Department, all of this says there is no crisis in the ranks, that things are going well.

But, Fredricka, I myself have spoken to air marshals here at this very airport,people who are filling in, Customs Service, ATF and DEA agents who were on their very last flights as air marshals. They said it is a tough and tedious job, and they couldn't believe that anybody would want to do it full time.

This comes as air travelers are saying -- they are confident in new security measures they have taken since 9-11. AAA did a survey of some 1,022 adults, and they found that 75 percent said they were extremely confident, very confident or somewhat confident in the new security measures, and that was just way up, from just 33 percent in month after 9-11, October 25th in 2001, who said they had any confidence level.

The survey also looked at whether or not people supported giving pilots guns in the cockpit, and yes, they did -- 51 percent said that would boost their confidence in aviation security. Only 14 percent said they would be less confident, and 32 percent said it wouldn't impact them at all.

The people who were surveyed were very adamant about the fact that they didn't want any delay in the deadline in putting in the new huge bag screening machines in every airport by year end to check for bombs; 81 percent said put those machines in by the end of the year, on time, even if it means delays at the airports. And it was also interesting, Fredricka, they say said that they understand these new measures cost money. And the people who AAA surveyed said -- 87 percent said they would pay more for airline ticket to cover the security cost; 50 percent of them saying they would pay $10 dollars or more per round trip ticket.

Back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right, Kathleen Koch, thank you very much, from Reagan National Airport. Appreciate it.

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