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American Morning

America's New War: Armed Pilots?

Aired September 25, 2001 - 09:02   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: More now on that controversy proposal to arm airline pilots with guns, details from CNN's Patty Davis.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A call to arms by the nation's pilots, firearms in cockpits; that in the wake of the terrorist hijacks two weeks ago.

DUANE WOERTH, AIR PILOTS ASSN.: If you are ever in a last-ditch effort to save the cockpit and save the crew, maybe save the Capitol, the pilots could certainly benefit by being armed and trained to use those weapons.

DAVIS: The Airline Pilots Association says pilots could be armed in a matter of weeks if Congress signs on. The union, which represents 67 thousand pilots in United States and Canada, wants pilots who volunteer to carry weapons to undergo background checks and psychological profiles, receive extensive training in the use of firearms, be sworn in as law enforcement officers.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Bet you are busy?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're very busy over here right now.

DAVIS: It's an idea Federal Aviation Administrator Jane Garvey, flying to New York's JFK on a mission to restore passenger confidence, says she is not ruling out.

JANE GARVEY, FAA ADMINISTRATOR: And that's and idea that we're absolutely willing to look at.

DAVIS: Also, willing to look at it, some members of Congress, searching for ways to deter terrorists.

REP. JOHN MICA, (R) AVIATION SUBCMTE. CHMN.: We don't want a shootout, but we want at least the ability to have survivors among passenger and crew on board.

DAVIS (on camera): But arming pilots raises a number of concerns. Firing a gun in an airplane could pierce the fuselage and bring it down. The pilots say they'd use soft point bullets to injure humans, but not hurt the aircraft.

(voice-over): Airline industry sources worry the weapon could be used against pilots.

MICHAEL BOYD, BOYD AVIATION: Anytime you have a firearm, someone else could get control of it. So custody and control will be very important in terms of who have carries the weapon, where it's stored, who is trained to use it.

DAVIS: Pilots say arming their ranks would be the fastest way to bolster cockpit security, a solution, they say, that would help until there are stronger cockpit doors, stun guns in every flight deck, and new air marshals recruited and put in place.

Patty Davis, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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