Homeland Security considers seeking authority to shoot down aircraft

Airline Industry Information, May 24, 2005

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2005 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

An internal agency memo from the US Homeland Security Department has revealed that the agency is considering seeking authority to shoot down aircraft entering restricted airspace around Washington.

Having the Coast Guard on air patrol in the area could raise some questions regarding who would give an order to use lethal force, should an emergency arise, The Associated Press reported. Apparently hundreds of general aviation aircraft stray into the restricted zone every year and are turned away by Customs and Border Protection helicopters. While the Customs and Border Protection helicopters do not have authority to fire shots of warning or to disable, some of the Coast Guard aircraft do reportedly have that authority.

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