Intercepts and Shootdowns
“
...the Indian This order can only be given by an
official with the rank of Assistant Chief
government said craft of Air Staff or above. The government
made it clear that the priority of fighter
would be shot down jets would be to try and force the air-
craft to land safely on Indian soil.
if they did not identify
Poland
themselves or appeared
Colombia modernised its Air Force in 2009. In a $160
In 2005, the government approved
million deal it acquired 24 modernised Kfir C10 jet
a law allowing hijacked aircraft to be
fighters. Of the 24, 11 are upgraded FAC Kfir C7s
to have malicious
(as pictured)
shot down as a last resort. The decision
would have to be made by the Defence until the moment I need to give the
intentions of targeting Minister or the Air Force Commander order, it’s a maximum 90 seconds to
after attempts to land hijacked planes two minutes, said Schmid.”
vital installations...” had failed. Similar laws are in place in
the Czech Republic and Hungary. Sweden
shoot down a plane if the time came. Sweden does not allow hijacked aircraft
General Eberhart said a careful chain Russia to be shot down under any circum-
of command and identification was In 2006, Russia passed a new anti- stances. “We can try to drive them off,
in place to order such a shoot-down: terrorism bill allowing the military to but not order them shot down,” said
“Somebody just can’t get up on the shoot down hijacked passenger planes. Defence Ministry spokeswoman Paula
radio channel and say `Hey, I’m the The new law would allow the military Burreau in 2005.
President of the United States, shoot to shoot down a hijacked jet if terror-
that down.” ists threatened to fly into a building or Overall, in Europe, military aircraft
populated target. Previous policies of are under control of NATO. When
Germany shooting down planes in former Soviet a NATO State wants to intercept an
In 2006 the constitutional court reject- territory during the Cold War e.g. the aircraft in its territory the fighters are
ed a proposed law, formulated in the Korean flights appear to have been taken out of control of NATO and
wake of 9/11, to shoot down hijacked disbanded with the end of the Soviet put under national command. In most
aircraft. The court ruled that it infringed Union and it is not apparent that Russia States it is seen as a political decision
the right to life and dignity. The law would shoot down a plane that merely to take further actions so decisions
had been intended as a last resort and violates its airspace without permission. are mostly only to be taken by either
could only have been ordered by the the President, Prime Minister or other
federal government in such a situation, Spain and Greece involved ministers. In the Netherlands
not the military. The German pilots Only allow the shooting down of aircraft this is the Minister of Justice who is
union had been against the law, saying during security sensitive events, such as responsible for aviation security.
a tragic mistake could easily be made the Olympic Games in 2004, for Greece.
Conclusion
India Switzerland The ultimate winners of any shoot
In 2005, the government brought in In 2005, then Swiss President down will be the terrorists. Although
new anti-hijacking legislation that per- Samuel Schmid said that in the they did not achieve their intended
mitted, in extreme circumstances, the wake of 9/11 the country was goal, significant loss of life will have
shooting down of hijacked aircraft. The obliged to guarantee a certain been achieved. Furthermore they will
government said craft would be shot standard of security, due to the probably openly blame the State for
down if they did not identify them- many international organisations its actions and the media will speculate
selves or appeared to have malicious based in and international confer- whether the aircraft either had been
intentions of targeting vital installations. ences held there. Therefore the hijacked or, if it was, whether the inten-
defence minister was given a blan- tion of the hijackers was to use it as a
ket authority to order the shooting weapon of mass destruction. For that
down of any airliner in unauthor- reason any order to shoot down must
ised air space, if necessary. Schmid be the absolute last resort.
said he would give the order only
if Swiss military planes had failed The author is a freelance journalist who
to persuade the aircraft to land, is the Publisher and Managing Editor
and after determining that it pre- of “The Arab”, a journal launched two
sented a real threat because it years ago covering Middle Eastern poli-
Artist’s rendition of the Libyan Arab Airlines B-727
shot down by two Israeli F-4 fighter jets over the
was headed for a particular target. tics, culture and social affairs.
Sinai on 21 February 1973 “But from the moment I’m alerted
14 Register now for FREE instant access to ASI online by visiting
www.asi-mag.com December 2009 Aviationsecurityinternational
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