Did you see this ridiculous story? All bred out of the paranoia that the USA has been spreading. I wouldn't be surprised if it was American tourists that forced this poor chap to leave the flight
It always amazed me how people have so little education or world knowledge. After 9-11 there were a few incidents here with idiots not knowing the difference between a sikh and a "scary" terrorist.
Due to media coverage, outreach programs, and as far as security personnel go, further training have limited this type of incident in the last couple of years.
I found the reference to Air Marshal's in the article interesting. I read the whole news release on a work related forum. I have posted it below. It has several inaccurate statements, but is interesting. Is the Green party one of the leading political parties in New Zealand?
Just to set the record straight, U.S. Federal Air Marshals are sworn law enforcement officers. Plus, I don't believe there are any U.S. carriers serving New Zealand anymore. I know United did, but I think ANZ covers those routes code-share for United now, as part of the Star alliance. New Zealand wouldn't be seeing any of us anytime soon I don't think. As far as The Aussies ASO's go, they are highly trained as well and are part of the AFP/APS.
To each their own however. If New Zealand does not want them, its their choice.
Shoot-outs in sky possible, in name of security
Tuesday, 13 March 2007, 3:55 pm
Press Release: Green Party
13 March 2007
Shoot-outs in the sky possible, in the name of security
Green MP Keith Locke has warned against the danger of legally allowing foreign armed air marshals onto planes coming into New Zealand, as proposed by the Aviation Security Legislation Bill introduced into Parliament today.
"The cure seems worse than the condition. The New Zealand Government should not be authorising an armed security officer from a foreign country to discharge a gun in the confined space of a pressurised aircraft cabin that will quite possibly be full of New Zealand citizens," Mr Locke says.
"We must not be panicked by the US reaction to the security threats that it envisages. Current law does not allow weapons to be discharged on board an aircraft in the event of a security incident.
"New Zealand is clearly coming under financial pressure to accept the presence of armed air marshals. As the Bill's explanatory note says, Air New Zealand could sustain the revenue loss from an occasional flight cancellation caused by security concerns, but could not afford to do so if countries regularly advised of security concerns, and we had not bowed to letting armed air marshals on board in response.
"The Green Party strongly oppose airlines putting their financial returns ahead of the risk posed to their passengers by giving armed security officers the legal right to use their weapons in mid air. The chances of accidents, or cowboy responses, are obvious - especially when the Bill's explanatory note says the potential weapons available to hijackers include 'liquid explosive disguised as a sports drink.'
"We don't need to give into the US pressures, and we should not rubberstamp legislation that aims to give wide powers of search and seizure to airline security staff who are not sworn Police officers.
"Fears about cowboy behaviour by unsworn air marshals is not unfounded. Between late 2001 and mid 2003, Time magazine has reported, there were 600 reports of misconduct involving US air marshals, including one who drew a gun on someone who had taken his airline parking space," Mr Locke says.
