Sky marshals to protect aircraft on 37 routes

Sky marshals to protect aircraft on 37 routes
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

CHENNAI, APRIL 30: Sky marshals, to prevent any untoward incidents from occurring inside the aircraft, were in the process of being placed for which 37 ``sensitive'' routes have been identified, Union Minister of State for Aviation, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, said today.

Gupta, who was here for a brief period to participate in a security related meeting, told reporters at Chennai airport that the sky marshals would also be placed in random routes.

He said keeping in view the security threat particularly posed by cross-border terrorism, ``we have taken all possible measures to make security system a foolproof one''.

Strict security measures had been introduced at three points - entrance, at the arrival hall and at ladder point. While every effort had been taken to prevent any inconvenience to the air passenger, there would be no let up on security, he said.

Gupta said during the recent mock exercise at Bangalore certain lapses were found in the security like how the ``hijackers'' managed to take weapons aboard the aircraft. After suitable measures were taken security had improved at Bangalore airport, he said.

Bureau of Civil Aviation security Commissioner V Aiwali said out of the 66 operational airports identified in the country, already in 11 Central Industrial Security Force had taken over the security of these airports.