US airline pilots get guns

US airline pilots get guns

Michael Buchanan BBC, Washington

American airline pilots will be allowed to carry handguns on flights from this weekend.

The measure is intended to protect crews and passengers from terrorist attacks.

If one of them is scheduled to fly on Sunday, then as early as Sunday we might have a pilot with a gun in a cockpit

Heather Rosenker
US Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman

The course that they have been attending finishes on Saturday and, in theory, those pilots who qualify from the course can fly with their guns from Sunday.

Nearly 50 airline pilots have spent the week attending classes on the use of firearms.

The training has included target shooting, defensive tactics and the law regarding the use of force.

The pilots who qualify will be allowed to carry semi-automatic pistols on domestic US flights served by American carriers.

Congress decided to allow pilots to carry firearms after the 11 September attacks on New York and Washington, despite initial resistance from both the White House and airline companies.

Pilots representatives argue the measure is essential to provide security in the skies.

They expect around 30,000 pilots to be carrying weapons within five years.