Sky Marshals: A Step Too Far?

Europe and the United States appear to be as far apart on the issue of sky marshals as they are geographically divided. As political pressure hastens their introduction, Simon Phippard and Edward Spencer examine the potential legal implications.

With the periodic refusal to allow certain flights to operate to the USA and other destinations as scheduled, fears are rife that terrorists may still be looking to target civil aviation as a vehicle for their atrocities. Against this background, all passengers on international air services may now be asking themselves whether an armed sky marshal is on board their aircraft and, if so, whether that presence is more reassuring or less so.

Under the overall responsibility of the Department for Transport, sky marshals or APOs (Aircraft Protection Officers) have been cleared for deployment on UKregistered aircraft. The APOs are government employees, specifically members of the police service. The CAA in this country gives a special dispensation