Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations via AP
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security
announced today new security enhancements for commercial flights bound
for the U.S. from certain foreign airports in the wake of last weekend's
deadly Russian jet crash near Egypt's Sharm El Sheikh Airport.
Egyptian authorities said today it was "plausible" the crash was caused by a bomb.
"While there are no direct commercial air flights from Sharm El Sheikh,
Egypt to the United States, these enhancements are designed to provide
an additional layer of security for the traveling public, and will be
undertaken in consultation with relevant foreign governments and
relevant passenger and cargo airlines," DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson said in a statement today. This covers fewer than 10 airports, all of which are in the region.
The enhancements include expanded screening of items on planes and
offers of assistance to certain foreign airports, the statement said.
The DHS did not elaborate.
"These security enhancements are intended only for certain foreign airports in the region," according to the statement.
DHS is "working closely" with domestic and international partners to
evaluate the cause of the crash, the statement said, and will continue
to take appropriate precautionary security measures. Johnson said the
DHS will "continually assess our aviation security enhancements, and
consider whether additional changes are appropriate."
The U.S. is not considering suspending flights in the area at this
point, according to White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest. He said
the DHS's safety precautions are what "we believe are necessary."
British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said earlier this week that
while the investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, there
was a "significant possibility" the crash was caused by a bomb, and
Britain has suspended flights to and from the Sinai resort city
indefinitely. Russia also said it was suspending flights.
A government official in Sharm El Sheikh told ABC News that Egyptian
authorities can no longer dismiss the possibility that a bomb was placed
on the plane and, in their mind, it is the most plausible scenario,
adding that a technical problem is now at the bottom of their list of
possible scenarios.
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