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U.S. NEWS Friday 15 January 2021
Most major U.S. airlines ban guns in luggage for D.C. flights

By DAVID KOENIG Bastian said Delta has “sig-
AP Airlines Writer nificantly increased our
Airlines and airports say security both seen and
they are stepping up se- unseen on board planes
curity before next week’s and in airports” leading up
presidential inauguration, to the Biden inauguration
with Delta and other major next Wednesday.
airlines saying they will pro- American said it too is add-
hibit passengers flying to ing more security staff at
the Washington area from Washington-area airports
putting guns in checked for inauguration week and
bags. will change its gate-area
The moves follow the Jan. announcements to remind
6 riot at the U.S. Capitol passengers to follow crew
by supporters of President instructions and wear face
Donald Trump and politi- masks, said spokesman
cally tinged confrontations Curtis Blessing.
on some flights. The airline is also moving
Delta Air Lines was the first flight crews from down-
to announce Thursday that town hotels to ones closer
it will prohibit checking to the airports and hiring
guns to Washington-area private transportation for
airports and was soon fol- them. Last week, passen-
lowed by United, Alaska TSA officers wear protective masks at a security screening area at Seattle-Tacoma International gers on an airport shuttle
and American. All said their Airport Monday, May 18, 2020, in SeaTac, Wash. Associated Press bus to Reagan airport
bans will start Saturday and made racial slurs against a
run through Inauguration forcement of rules against cial said Tuesday that such from airline employees and Black flight attendant, ac-
Day until Jan. 23. interfering with or assault- a move was being consid- other passengers. cording to the union rep-
“We are all on high alert ing airline crew members or ered. The FBI did not imme- “There are six people, and resenting American’s flight
based on the events over other passengers. The FAA diately respond Thursday to they will never fly Delta attendants. Travelers going
the last couple weeks up said that for the next two an update request. again,” Bastian told The As- through Reagan National
in Washington,” CEO Ed months it will stop giving So far, it has fallen on the sociated Press. “They have or Dulles International Air-
Bastian said Thursday on warnings to violators and nation’s airlines to prevent already been notified.” port outside Washington
CNBC. will instead refer their cases an in-flight incident from A few days later, anoth- should expect to see more
The airlines also announced to law enforcement for po- getting out of control by er Republican senator, police presence through
other measures. American tential charges, fines and threatening to ban people Lindsey Graham of South the inauguration, said Mi-
Airlines is bringing back jail terms. who refuse to wear masks Carolina, was harassed in cah Lillard, a spokesman
a ban on serving alcohol FAA Administrator Stephen or ignore flight attendants’ the terminal at Reagan for the Metropolitan Wash-
on flights to and from the Dickson cited recent distur- orders. Washington National Air- ington Airports Authority.
Washington area — flights bances on planes, adding Early last week, several port after voting, in effect, He declined to give details.
go dry starting Saturday there has been “a trend af- Trump supporters on a Delta to certify President-elect Jeffrey Price, an aviation-
through next Thursday. ter the breach of the Capi- flight from Salt Lake City to Joe Biden’s victory over security expert at Metro-
Several airlines are mov- tol last week.” Washington heckled Sen. Trump. Around the same politan State University in
ing crews out of downtown Key lawmakers and the Mitt Romney, a Utah Re- time, Alaska Airlines said it Denver, said the federal
Washington hotels for their head of the nation’s larg- publican who has criticized banned 14 passengers who government needs to de-
safety. est union of flight atten- Trump and voted last year harassed crew members ploy more air marshals and
Earlier this week, the Fed- dants have asked the FBI to to remove him from office. and refused to wear masks other personnel on planes
eral Aviation Administration place Capitol rioters on the Bastian said the hecklers during a flight from the D.C. flying to and from the D.C.
announced it will raise en- federal no-fly list. An FBI offi- were identified with help area to Seattle. area. .q

Unions: Passenger rails need better

security, no-ride list

By JOSH FUNK Capitol because people a person to board a train
Associated Press who took part in the insur- is simply to have a ticket;
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Two rection and were subse- nothing more, nothing less.
major railroad workers quently placed on the no- There is no screening pro-
unions have asked the De- fly list may turn to rail travel cess. There is no TSA. And
partment of Homeland Se- instead. The Sheet Metal, there are no significant
curity to beef up security Air, Rail and Transportation statutes or regulations to
on Amtrak and other pas- Workers — Transportation penalize those willing to in-
senger lines, including by Division and the Brother- terfere with a train’s crew
creating a no-ride list akin hood of Locomotive Engi- or to do harm on a train, In this Jan. 1, 2021 file photo, The Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge
to the no-fly list that pre- neers and Trainmen unions especially not when com- overlooks the newly-completed Moynihan Train Hall in New
York.
vents people identified as urged federal regulators to pared to the airline indus- Associated Press
risks from boarding planes. add more security at train try,” the presidents of both
The unions said Wednesday stations to screen passen- unions, Jeremy Ferguson Administration. help ensure compliance
that tougher security mea- gers before they board. and Dennis Pierce, said in a Amtrak plans to deploy ad- with safety rules, spokes-
sures are needed in light of “Even as of this hour, the joint statement, referring to ditional police officers on woman Kimberly Woods
last week’s riot at the U.S. only real requirement for the Transportation Security its trains and at stations to said.q