TSA weighs hundreds of flights, boosts security ahead of inauguration

The Transportation Security Administration said on Friday it was assessing hundreds of people to determine whether they should be banned from flights as it tightened security ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on January 20.

“Currently, the TSA is processing hundreds of names with law enforcement for a thorough risk assessment,” TSA administrator David Pekoske said in a statement. “Our intelligence and verification professionals are working diligently around the clock to ensure that those who may pose a threat to our aviation industry are subject to increased scrutiny or cannot board an aircraft. plane.”

The TSA said it is also increasing the number of Federal Air Marshals on certain flights, random gate checks and more law enforcement and canine explosives detection teams. It also reinforces the staff of certain stations.

The additional measures come after the deadly riot on the United States Capitol last week and a series of flight disruptions, some of them politically motivated.

In the aftermath of the riot, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents approximately 50,000 cabin crew at more than a dozen airlines, raised safety concerns about the “behavior of the crowd mentality “on some flights to Washington DC last week and said people who participated in the rioting should be banned from flying.

The FAA promised it would adopt a zero tolerance policy for unruly behavior on flights and fined them up to $ 35,000.

Airlines and airports are also increasing security. Major U.S. carriers are banning passengers from checking guns on Washington DC area flights from this weekend until next week. American Airlines is suspending alcohol sales on flights, while Alaska Airlines is limiting the number of tickets it sells to the city.