Metal cutlery banned on U.S.-bound flights

By Gargi Parsai

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 14. There will be no flights to the United States from India for the next three to four days as the air space there has not been opened for air carriers not registered in the U.S. However, even U.S.-based United Airlines will not operate to the U.S. from India, sources said.

As an abundant measure of precaution, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has banned the use of metal knives as part of the cutlery on flights in the U.S. New security conditions, imposed by the FAA on airlines flying into the U.S., say that steak, for instance, which requires the use of sharp knives, will not be served on the U.S.-bound flights.

Airlines will accordingly have to redesign their catering and cutlery. An Air India source said metal knives will be replaced with plastic knives on U.S.-bound flights.

The instructions came today following another suspected hijack attempt at the J.F.Kennedy Airport in New York where a passenger, with forged identity papers and carrying a knife, was held before boarding an American Airline flight. The New York airspace was promptly closed again after being opened for a while. In its renewed security conditions, the FAA has asked security agencies to check all airports and air craft thoroughly before flight. Curb-side check-ins which are common in the U.S. for domestic flights have been banned. It has asked airport authorities to closely monitor all vehicles near airports and post additional security agents. Sky marshals should be deployed on all flights.

The FAA has emphasised screening of all baggage. It has warned that screeners found lax in their work would be sacked. It has directed that all pilots and in-flight crew be trained in anti- hijacking.

Most of these instructions form part of the security norms laid by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. Following the hijack of a Delhi-bound Indian Airlines flight from Kathmandu to Kandahar in 1999, Indian authorities had taken several similar security measures. A dedicated force of the Central Industrial Security Force has been deployed at 20 major and sensitive airports and sky marshals have been posted on random flights. The CTVs have been introduced at major airports and besides baggage x-ray checks at airports, ladder point checks have been made compulsory for airlines.

Following the FAA directions, all airlines have decided to keep their U.S.-bound flights grounded. Air India today said that they had no intention of operating to the U.S. till September 19. On Sunday, the airline will operate its New York flight till London.

British Airways has resumed partial operation to Canada and none to the U.S. Cathay Pacific also resumed flights to Canada, but grounded its flights to the U.S. It has advised passengers to bring a maximum of one item of hand baggage and not carry any knife of any sort in the hand baggage.

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