Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live At Daybreak
More Security Steps to Protect Against Terrorist Attacks
Aired December 30, 2003 - 05:34 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In the States, more security steps to protect against terrorist attacks. The U.S. government has now ordered airlines to put armed law officers on some flights coming to the United States.
Our Robyn Curnow joins us live from London to talk about the international reaction to this.
Will this start up right away -- Robin.
ROBYN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, essentially, Carol, the United Kingdom agrees with the United States that armed air marshals are needed on transatlantic flights. The British government says that any final decision to put armed air marshals on flights emanating from the United Kingdom risks with them, this deployment will be made, this decision on this deployment will be made solely by the British government when they deem it is necessary.
But just remember, the British government has been in talks with the airline industry for some time now about this idea. It's companies such as British Airways and Virgin Atlantic that will be affected by this decision. In fact, the companies themselves will have to pay for the seats that the air sky marshals will be sitting on. So there will be no aid or no subsidies from the British government or even, as a matter of fact, from the U.S. government, for any European or international flight employing air marshals.
Interestingly, Carol, there's been quite a lot of controversy here in England about this decision. Companies like British Airways say they don't mind having air marshals if it is deemed necessary. However, the airline pilots association has said that it is unhappy with the idea.
COSTELLO: Why are British pilots unhappy with the idea?
CURNOW: Essentially, Carol, they are uneasy with the idea of having guns or any other weapons on the planes with them. In fact, they've also expressed concern that perhaps their authority or their leadership on the planes at 35,000 feet might be jeopardized or at least compromised by the presence of an armed guard, a police on their plane.
Some crews are also expressing concern that they might be held liable for any of the actions an armed guard takes while in the air.
So essentially many of the airline pilots here saying that it's going to do more harm than good -- Carol. COSTELLO: Robyn Curnow reporting live from London this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 30, 2003 - 05:34 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In the States, more security steps to protect against terrorist attacks. The U.S. government has now ordered airlines to put armed law officers on some flights coming to the United States.
Our Robyn Curnow joins us live from London to talk about the international reaction to this.
Will this start up right away -- Robin.
ROBYN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, essentially, Carol, the United Kingdom agrees with the United States that armed air marshals are needed on transatlantic flights. The British government says that any final decision to put armed air marshals on flights emanating from the United Kingdom risks with them, this deployment will be made, this decision on this deployment will be made solely by the British government when they deem it is necessary.
But just remember, the British government has been in talks with the airline industry for some time now about this idea. It's companies such as British Airways and Virgin Atlantic that will be affected by this decision. In fact, the companies themselves will have to pay for the seats that the air sky marshals will be sitting on. So there will be no aid or no subsidies from the British government or even, as a matter of fact, from the U.S. government, for any European or international flight employing air marshals.
Interestingly, Carol, there's been quite a lot of controversy here in England about this decision. Companies like British Airways say they don't mind having air marshals if it is deemed necessary. However, the airline pilots association has said that it is unhappy with the idea.
COSTELLO: Why are British pilots unhappy with the idea?
CURNOW: Essentially, Carol, they are uneasy with the idea of having guns or any other weapons on the planes with them. In fact, they've also expressed concern that perhaps their authority or their leadership on the planes at 35,000 feet might be jeopardized or at least compromised by the presence of an armed guard, a police on their plane.
Some crews are also expressing concern that they might be held liable for any of the actions an armed guard takes while in the air.
So essentially many of the airline pilots here saying that it's going to do more harm than good -- Carol. COSTELLO: Robyn Curnow reporting live from London this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
