The US government plans to require foreign airlines to provide passenger lists before flying over the United States in an anti-terrorism measure, it was reported today.
The Washington Postsaid US and foreign officials are negotiating over whether airlines or the US government would have responsibility for checking names against the US "no-fly" list. It said the order was expected "in coming weeks."
The watch list, adopted after the September 11th, 2001, attacks, bans suspected terrorists from entering the country or boarding a flight to the United States.
US officials have been concerned that terrorists may try to hijack a plane over the United States and crash it into a building.
But officials acknowledge that no credible intelligence exists indicating such a plot, the newspaper reported.
The proposed expansion was prompted by a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Mexico on April 8th that was prohibited from flying over American airspace because two passengers were found to be on the US "no-fly" list, the newspaper said.
The proposal has angered European, Mexican and Canadian airlines, which operate most of the estimated 500 daily flights over the United States. If foreign carriers do not comply, they could have to reroute flights adding cost and time to the journeys.
Under current rules, overseas carriers are required to provide passenger lists to US officials within 15 minutes of takeoff if they are landing in the United States, the report said, citing the Transportation Security Administration.