Homeland Security To Establish Stricter No-Fly Regulations

Since terrorist attacks have become a very real threat to the safety of flyers and those who live where aircrafts are scheduled to arrive, the no-fly list has played a vital role in securing the safety of those who could be made vulnerable by the less-than-humane approach many radicals have in getting their points-of-view across. Despite recent reforms to the no-fly list, airlines are said to be taking the concept more and more seriously after the attempted Times Square bombing this past Saturday.

Faisal Shahzad, the man who attempted to set off an SUV bomb in Times Square, probably would never have made it on the Emirates flight had those in charge of checking the no-fly list been more rigorous in their inspection, something that has prompted Homeland Security to impose new, more stringent requirements for how often airlines need to check the updated list.

Just hours before he boarded a flight to Dubai from JFK airport on Monday, Shahzad’s name was added to the list that would have restricted him from even setting foot on an aircraft. As names are added, notifications are sent to airlines around the globe to alert them that someone new is now in the database. Previously, airlines were required to check and update their lists every 24 hours, which until now was deemed enough to prevent terrorists from reaching their intended destinations.

A Homeland Security official who remains unnamed has stated that effective immediately, airlines will have two hours following updates to the list to review and acknowledge the newly added names. Airlines who do not comply with the new regulation could face heavy fines.

The no-fly list has not come without its fair share of criticism. Names are added not by personal reputation, but by knowing a potential terrorist or being deemed as having ‘potential’ relations to a known terrorist group, and the adding of names remains far from an exact science. Following this recent attempt at destroying one of the nation’s busiest metropolises, Homeland Security is taking no risks in enforcing and restricting the flight capabilities of anyone they deem as a threat to the nation’s safety.

As of now, Shahzad remains in custody as he was arrested 30 minutes after boarding the plane, when Emirates airline realized that his name was on the no-fly list. As stated by the Homeland Security official, the department has hopes that with this new policy in effect future attacks could be eliminated or deterred.

[Image: Macleans]