German government authorised to shoot down suspect aircraft

Airline Industry Information, June 21, 2004

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

The German parliament has reportedly voted to authorise the shooting down of aircraft posing a security threat.

Deputies from Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's Social Democrats and their Greens coalition partners approved the measure, which will give the defence minister authority to issue such orders to the air force. Opposition Christian Democrats voted against the law, claiming it violated the constitution which limits the role of the armed forces within Germany's borders.

Fighter pilots are to receive special psychological training to prepare them for the possibility of having to destroy a civilian aircraft in order to avert an 11 September-style attack, reported Reuters.

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