WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. government plans to require foreign airlines to provide passenger lists before flying over the United States in an effort to keep terrorists out of U.S. airspace, The Washington Post reported on Thursday.
U.S. and foreign officials are negotiating over whether airlines or the U.S. government would have responsibility for checking names against the U.S. «no-fly» list, the newspaper said. It said the order was expected «in coming weeks.»
The watch list, adopted after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, bans suspected terrorists from entering the country or boarding a flight to the United States.
U.S. officials have been concerned that terrorists may try to hijack a plane over the United States and crash it into a building. But officials acknowledge that no credible intelligence exists indicating such a plot, the newspaper reported.
«We are currently considering a measure that would require foreign carriers to vet their passenger manifests against the ‘no-fly’ list and ‘selectee’ lists on overflights,» Transportation Safety Administration spokeswoman Yolanda Clark was quoted as saying.
The proposed expansion was prompted by a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Mexico on April 8 which was prohibited from flying over American airspace because two passengers were found to be on the U.S. «no-fly» list, the newspaper said.
The proposal has angered European, Mexican and Canadian airlines, which operate most of the estimated 500 daily flights over the United States, the newspaper said.
If foreign carriers do not comply, they could have to reroute flights adding cost and time to the journeys, the newspaper said.
Under current rules, overseas carriers are required to provide passenger lists to U.S. officials within 15 minutes of takeoff if they are landing in the United States, the report said, citing the Transportation Security Administration.
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