What exactly is an air marshal, and what are they trained to do on a flight?
In: 20
There was a rash of bold and deadly hijackings in the 1960s. In response the US established the federal air marshal service. While they are a law enforcement agency, their primary goal is security of high risk flights. Essentially they are a deterrent, meant to make the prospect of hijacking any US flight that much more risky. They were few in number until after 9/11, when they were placed under the control of homeland security and expanded. Their purpose largely remains the same though, pose a threat to any would be hijackers and enforce federal law in the airplane.
Assuming you mean the US Federal Air Marshals, the actual training and specifics are not for public release.
Their role is to act as onboard law enforcement. In the 60s-70s there was an issue with aircraft highjacking for political reasons. Things like diverting the flight to take people hostage or to get into another country. Undercover Law enforcement were put on high risk flights to stop this.
Post 9/11 it’s still the same mission set.
An air marshal is either a military officer equivalent to a lieutenant general/vice admiral (three-star) in the British system of air force ranks or an American law enforcement officer who rides planes in plainclothes and carries a weapon as a deterrent to hijacking.
When I was an airline pilot we were told air marshals were there to prevent terrorism and attempted cockpit breaching. Nothing more. Crazy passenger? Air Marshall stays seated and quiet in case it’s a diversion tactic. Medical emergency? Same thing. Not their job and might be a diversion tactic to identify law enforcement on board. It’s been a while but I don’t think they had to announce to us they were on board. I have no idea if the flight attendants or gate agents knew or not.
Air Marshals are the real law enforcement of the sky unlike the dollar store plastic badge TSA who couldn’t pass the training to be a mall cop.
Latest Answers