KLM Airlines Ends Experiment with Air Marshals

    Jan. 31, 2005
    Washington directive that pushed for marshals on flights to U.S. from Europe is not being acted upon

    Source AP WorldStream English (all) via NewsEdge Corporation

    AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has ended a 6-month test program that allowed armed air marshals on some international flights, and may not resume it, a spokesman said Friday.

    KLM was one of the few European airlines to comply with a post-Sept. 11, 2001, demand by Washington -- later softened to a request -- that U.S.-bound international flights carry marshals.

    Company spokesman Hugo Baas said the trial began in July and ended in early January.

    KLM officials plan to meet with representatives for pilots, law enforcement and the government on Feb. 8 to discuss the program's future. "Any outcome is possible," Baas said. He said that the Dutch government was willing to continue funding the program.

    But pilots are unhappy having armed marshals on their flights, and KLM believes other recent security measures -- such as stricter airport security and adding cockpit door locks -- had lessened the need for marshals, Baas said.

    Marshals are specially trained plainclothes police who could intervene in case terrorists try to take over a flight. KLM is a subsidiary of Air France-KLM.