Security Council debates terrorist threat to aviation

Attacks at airports in Brussels and Istanbul this year were a "tragic reminder" of the inseparability of aviation and national security, diplomats heard at the UN on Thursday.

Security Council members met to discuss global efforts to counter the terrorist threat to the aviation industry.

Ten million travellers take to the skies each day on more than 100,000 flights worldwide.

That's according to data from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) which expects the numbers to double by 2030.

ICAO is the UN agency which works with countries and partners on policies that support an aviation sector that is efficient, safe, economically sustainable and environmentally responsible.

Secretary-General Dr Fang Liu reported that the situation regarding threats and risks remains complex and rapidly evolving.
She said measures to address them must also follow suit.

"The high-profile landside airport attacks in Brussels and Istanbul earlier this year were a tragic reminder of the enormous challenges faced in securing public areas, the inseparability of aviation security and national security, and of the significant socio-economic consequences of terrorism. But they also remind us of the resilience and responsiveness of the global civil aviation network."

Dr Liu listed ongoing and new concerns that require attention.

They included small weapons carried by passengers, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) concealed in baggage and cargo, cybersecurity, and Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems or drones.


SOURCE: Dianne Penn, United Nations.