The heads of aviation agencies in the European Union are scheduled to meet Friday in Brussels to discuss the recent announcement by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that foreign airlines will be required to place armed law-enforcement officers on flights to the United States “where necessary.” Michael O’Leary, the CEO of Ryanair, spoke out against the practice last Friday. “Putting armed air marshals on airplanes isn’t going to make an airplane more secure, it’s going to make it less secure,” he said. “The fewer guns there are, the safer the situation is.” Apparently, some U.S. officials differ with that assessment. Ryanair, based in Ireland, is Europe’s leading low-cost carrier. It has no flights into the U.S. So far, the governments of Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Portugal, and South Africa have not agreed to the U.S. request, but France, Germany and Canada say they are OK with it.
EU To Discuss Guns Aloft
Key Takeaways:
- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is requiring foreign airlines to place armed law enforcement officers on flights to the U.S., a policy EU aviation agencies are meeting to discuss.
- Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary vehemently opposes the measure, asserting that armed personnel make flights less secure.
- International response to the U.S. request is split, with some countries like France, Germany, and Canada agreeing, while others such as Sweden, Denmark, and South Africa have not.
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