China is considering setting up a high-ranking taskforce to handle
plane hijacking, China News Service reported.
It
said the government was thinking of forming an "anti-hijacking
leading group" under the Civil Aviation Administration of
China(CAAC) to ensure rapid reaction if planes were hijacked.
CAAC said earlier it was considering setting up a new airline
police force to ensure the safety of domestic flights after the
September 11 attacks.
Soon after the attacks, China banned sharp objects in luggage.
Passengers were also prohibited from checking in luggage belonging
to others, the report said.
CAAC official Chen Xiaoning called for better legislation to
protect airline security. Although people who committed illegal
acts on a plane could be charged using other laws, he said there
was no specific legislation to punish actions such as taking over a
plane, destroying public facilities on a plane, or interfering in
the operation of the flight.
Measures should also be taken to address problems that have long
plagued the airline industry, such as clashes between disgruntled
passengers and airline staff over flight delays.
Mr
Chen said cabin crews should be trained to prevent hijackers
entering the cockpit and instructed on how to mobilise passengers
to stop hijacking acts.
Although safety measures at airports had been stepped up, security
remained lax because airlines lacked resources to implement
measures and airline staff did not receive enough training.
( November 19,2001)