German Cabinet permits military to shoot down hijacked aircraft

Airline Industry Information, Nov 5, 2003

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2003 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Germany's Cabinet has approved measures to permit the military to shoot down hijacked aircraft over German airspace that are deemed to pose a threat.

Under the proposal, the defence minister or a Cabinet-appointed deputy can decide to have the aircraft shot down "as a last resort". The aircraft would have to pose an immediate danger in German airspace, directly threaten people's lives and have failed to respond to orders to land and warning shots.

The bill - reached after weeks of talks between Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's governing Social Democrats and their junior partner, the Greens - still requires parliamentary approval, reported The Associated Press.

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