Travel Security Update.

Mar 31, 2008

Dozens of angry mourners buried yesterday an Egyptian man who they said was killed by shots fired from an American cargo ship, contracted to the U.S. Navy, as it passed through the Suez Canal. US officials said that American military guards aboard the ship fired only warning shots toward approaching motorboats Monday night and that they had received no report of anyone being killed. The incident occurred when the merchant ship Global Patriot entered the canal from the Red Sea and was approached by small motorboats that ply the waterway selling goods to passing ships, according to both Egyptian and U.S. accounts of the incident. The Navy has been leery of small boats getting near its warships since al-Qaida suicide attackers rammed an explosives-packed motorboat into the USS Cole off Yemen, killing 17 sailors in 2000. Mar 26, 2008

The U.S. Navy acknowledged Wednesday and expressed regret that an Egyptian citizen was killed when a navy-contracted ship fired warning shots at approaching motor boats in the Suez Canal. The Global Patriot, a civilian ship under short term contract to the U.S. Navy, entered the Suez Canal Monday and was approached at 8 p.m. by small motor boats that conduct informal commerce with canal shipping, prompting the onboard navy security team to fire shots after issuing verbal warnings." We express our deepest sympathies to the family of the deceased," said Vice Adm. Kevin J. Cosgriff, Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet said in a statement. "We are greatly saddened by events that apparently resulted in this accidental death. This situation is tragic, and we will do our utmost to help take care of the family of the deceased. Cosgriff added that the investigation was continuing to determine exactly what happened. Initial reports Tuesday from the Global Patriot had said that all shots had been accounted for and there were no casualties. The navy added that some form of compensation would be arranged for the family, which angrily buried Mohammed Fouad on Tuesday amid recriminations against the U.S. military and the Egyptian government. Mar 26, 2008

US Dept. of Homeland Security is scrambling to avoid a potentially chaotic scenario in which driver's licenses issued by three and possibly four states would become legally unacceptable for presentation as airport identification beginning May 11. A US law enacted in 2005 compels states to issue licenses--the primary form of identification used by US citizens--with multiple federally approved security features. While the deadline for first-phase compliance is May 11, DHS has issued numerous extensions to states that have demonstrated they are progressing toward issuing approved licenses in the next few years. But the deadline for applying for an extension is March 31 and Maine, Montana and South Carolina have yet to do so. It also is unclear whether New Hampshire properly sought one. The noncomplying states insist their licenses are secure and complain that making the required changes would be unnecessarily costly. Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D) called the federal law a "boondoggle" and South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (R) said he may file a lawsuit against DHS. Mar 24, 2008

New York

International visitors flying into New York now face being identified by all ten fingerprints, part of a heightened security system aimed at identifying potential terror suspects and visa fraud. The upgraded system, part of the US government's Homeland Security program and its war on terrorism, increases the chances of catching illegal or potentially dangerous entrants into the country, officials said at a media briefing at John F. Kennedy Airport. The system expands the digital fingerprinting of international visitors to ten fingers from two. The added measure came under fire from critics who claim it is not only ineffective but could violate passengers' privacy. Officials announced on Tuesday the system has been added to several entry points at Kennedy and is already in use at airports in Washington, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago and other major US cities. Mar 27, 2008

New York airports

The New York airports upgrade, to be installed at all US ports of entry by September, will cost around USD$280 million, according to the US Department of Homeland Security. The US government has been collecting digital fingerprints and photographs of nearly all non-citizens aged 14 and up entering the country since 2004, officials said, in a Homeland Security program called US-VISIT, at a cost of USD$1.7 billion. Visitors' fingerprints are checked against federal criminal and immigration records, and boosting the system will allow authorities to match fingerprints against a larger number on record, US officials said. On an average day, almost 14,400 international visitors undergo the fingerprinting process at Kennedy, officials said. More than 2,000 criminal and visa fraud cases have been detected by the screening process, introduced in response to security concerns following the attacks of September 11, 2001, US officials said. Great Britain has introduced ten-finger scans of visa-carrying foreigners into the country, while Canada and the European Union are working on similar programs. Mar 27, 2008

Oakland Airport

The Clear Registered Traveler program launched this week at Oakland International Airport in California. The program allows travelers who pay a $100 fee and pass a background check to move to the front of the security line. Mar 28, 2008

South Carolina

Residents of South Carolina might be subject to additional airport screening unless state and federal officials resolve a dispute over state-issued drivers licenses. South Carolina has refused to comply with Real ID requirements passed by Congress in 2005, and it is one of three states that has not been granted an extension for issuing new cards. Gov. Mark Sanford said he is studying the implications of requesting an extension. Mar 28, 2008

US Airways

The Charlotte Observer reports that a US Airways captain whose gun discharged during a flight is a former Air Force pilot.Pilot James Langenhahn declined to discuss the shooting with the newspaper, saying he'd like to talk about it but can't. Messages left by The Associated Press at a phone number listed for a James Langenhahn in Pittsburgh weren't returned Friday. The newspaper said it deduced the identity after it asked the Transportation Security Administration to provide a new police report, which showed Langenhahn's last name. The original report redacted most details of the incident. Mar 27, 2008

US Airways

US Airways pilot's gun accidentally went off on a flight from Denver to Charlotte on Saturday Mar. 22, causing the plane to be pulled from service, the airline said on Monday. No one was injured by the shot, and the aircraft landed safely in Charlotte. Flight 1536 had 124 passengers, two pilots and three flight attendants aboard, US Airways said. The pilot was a Federal Flight Deck Officer, permitted by the US Transportation Security Administration to carry a firearm. Mar 24, 2008

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