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American Morning

America Under Attack: When Were Federal Air Marshals Taken Off of Flights?

Aired October 10, 2001 - 10:15   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.
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UNIDENTIFIED CNN CORRESPONDENT: Judy Branett from Jackson, Mississippi asks: When were federal air marshals taken off of flights?

GAIL O'NEIL, CNN TRAVEL CORRESPONDENT: Judy, the fact is federal air marshals, also known as sky marshals were never taken off flights. The program was established in 1968 to stop hijackings to and from Cuba, and was expanding in 1985 by then-President Ronald Reagan in response to increased terrorist activity in the Middle East. And in the wake of the September 11th attacks, the FAA received funding to expand the program significantly.

Air marshal activity has us a been covert. While the number of active agents has waxed and waned over the years, the program itself was never dismantled. There are many misconceptions surrounding the operations because it's so low profile, and because it only gets attention when disaster strikes. But these are the facts, air marshals still fly on select high-risk flights. Agents are always armed, and part of their training includes use of firearm while in flight. Only pilots and crew members of made aware of the marshal's presence. In fact, you may have sat next to one in the past without even knowing it. Law enforcement officers from the Department of Justice and the Department of Treasury have also been called upon to supplement the air marshal program. Training is underway, and some of these agents have already been deployed.

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