The Office of the Manager Airport Security yesterday said that it had reviewed the security procedures with Malta International Airport immediately following the 25 December incident aboard a Northwest Airlines plane bound for Detroit.
“Appropriate security measures at the airport were taken in light of the information received,” the office said, saying current security standards for passenger screening adopted at the MIA meet international and regional requirements.
“These same standards are in place at all European Union airports and are adopted for all flights not departing to the United States of America. Locally, quality control is performed on an ongoing basis by OMAS on all aviation security aspects. Nevertheless, constant vigilance is required in all areas of airport security and the security procedures employed must be constantly updated as necessary.”
As early as February 2009, the Ministry for Justice and Home Affairs, through the Aviation Security Committee, has been evaluating the possibility of introducing body scanner technology. Malta International Airport is represented on this committee.
“No decision has been taken as yet in view of the fact that this new technology is also being debated at EU level, and so far there is no common position amongst all 27 member states about the need to adopt it across all European Union airports. Body scanners can be an added tool to airports. However, this is certainly not the ultimate answer for the detection of prohibited articles,” the office said.
Body scanners are still in the testing phase and so far, only three EU countries have committed to deploying such technology and only in selected airports within their territories.
The Maltese authorities said they would continue closely monitoring closely all international developments in this field and act accordingly in the interest of passengers and users of the airport.
Any comments?
If you wish your comments to be published in our Letters pages please click button below. Please write a contact number and a postal address where you may be contacted.
Search:
MALTATODAY
BUSINESSTODAY
Download MaltaToday Sunday issue front page in pdf file format
