Enhancing Security

Jeh Johnson, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the US, said that the US will be implementing a number of new security measures following the crash of Metrojet flight 9268 on the Sinai Peninsula on Oct. 31.

In a statement, Johnson said: “Out of an abundance of caution, [we] have identified a series of interim, precautionary enhancements to aviation security with respect to commercial flights bound for the United States from certain foreign airports in the region.”

Noting that although there are no direct commercial air flights from Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt to the United States, “these enhancements are designed to provide an additional layer of security for the traveling public and will be undertaken in consultation with relevant foreign governments and relevant passenger and cargo airlines.”

Secretary Johnson also said that the “enhancements will supplement U.S. aviation security requirements currently in place at all of foreign last-point-of-departure airports, as well as the additional security enhancements I directed last summer at certain foreign locations. Many of those enhancements have also been adopted by our European allies.”

The enhancements include:

• Expanded screening applied to items on aircraft.
• Airport assessments in conjunction with our international partners.
• Offers of other assistance to certain foreign airports related to aviation and airport security, as well as additional measures, both seen and unseen.

He noted that at this time, the security enhancements are intended only for certain foreign airports in the region, observing that: “While we cannot discuss the full details of our aviation security measures, or the enhancements noted today, I want to assure the traveling public that the Department of Homeland Security is working closely with our domestic and international partners to evaluate the cause of the crash of Flight 9268, and will continue to take appropriate precautionary security measures.”

Johnson said that: “As the investigation and our own review of the crash proceeds, we will continually assess our aviation security enhancements and consider whether additional changes are appropriate.”