Controversy over armed guards on airliners
Planes from several foreign airlines land in Norway with armed guards onboard. The airlines have permission from Norwegian authorities.
Deputy leader of the Judiciary Committee of the Norwegian Parliament, Gunn Karin Gjul, (Labour) has reacted strongly to the fact that permission has been given.
Director of the Civil Aviation Authority, Per-Arne Skogstad, confirms that there are armed guards, so-called Air Marshals, on several forign airliners that land in Norway.
-We have regarded it as a national concern of the individual airline's home nation whether or not armed guards are allowed, Skogstad says.
He says the weapons are handed over to the Norwegian police for safekeeping as soon as the airliners land on Norwegian soil.
Skogstad says there are no plans for permitting armed personnel on Norwegian airliners.
According to the newspaper VG, planes from Pakistani Airlines and Aeroflot probably have armed guards onboard.
Gunn Karin Gjul says she will question the Minister of Transport regarding the issue.
Via The Norway Post.
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