BrownHolerPoler
23rd Sep 2004, 15:37
'Gap' Let Singer Board Plane
By Leslie Miller in Washington
September 23, 2004
A GAP in the airline passenger-check system permitted the singer formerly known as Cat Stevens, who the US government suspects of having terrorist ties, to board a London-to-Washington flight despite being on a no-fly list, a US official said today.
The incident involving Yusuf Islam dramatises a need for changes to tighten the system, under secretary for homeland security Asa Hutchinson said.
"Right now, under the rules, we get the information (about passenger boardings) at Homeland Security, I believe it's 15 minutes after the plane takes off," Mr Hutchinson said.
There's a gap so the rules governing the comparison of passenger names with a watch list of people suspected of terrorist links have to be changed, Mr Hutchinson acknowledged in an interview on ABC television's Good Morning America.
He said the rules need to be changed to permit US federal authorities to review passenger lists, particularly for international flights, at least an hour before a plane takes off.
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By Leslie Miller in Washington
September 23, 2004
A GAP in the airline passenger-check system permitted the singer formerly known as Cat Stevens, who the US government suspects of having terrorist ties, to board a London-to-Washington flight despite being on a no-fly list, a US official said today.
The incident involving Yusuf Islam dramatises a need for changes to tighten the system, under secretary for homeland security Asa Hutchinson said.
"Right now, under the rules, we get the information (about passenger boardings) at Homeland Security, I believe it's 15 minutes after the plane takes off," Mr Hutchinson said.
There's a gap so the rules governing the comparison of passenger names with a watch list of people suspected of terrorist links have to be changed, Mr Hutchinson acknowledged in an interview on ABC television's Good Morning America.
He said the rules need to be changed to permit US federal authorities to review passenger lists, particularly for international flights, at least an hour before a plane takes off.
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