The Malaysian Minister of Transport (MOT) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) have taken steps to strengthen aviation personnel security checks following the arrest of a Malaysia Airlines pilot who was found to be linked to an international drug trafficking syndicate. The proposed measures include increased police presence at international airports and more frequent drug testing of key aviation staff.
Airport Security Measures Ramped Up
Following the shocking arrest of a Malaysian Airlines pilot who was found with drugs at an Indonesian airport, Malaysian officials have pledged to increase security measures to minimise the risk of a similar issue occurring again.
In the immediate aftermath of arrests being made, Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil, who serves as communications minister for the country was briefed by the home minister and MOT on the incident where several immediate improvements to aviation personnel checks were identified to prevent another security lapse.
One of the measured allegedly under consideration is the deployment of police personnel alongside aviation security teams at airports, where security is handled by auxiliary police currently. In addition to this, Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) will be required to review its background screening protocols and health screening procedures for pilots and co-pilots, according to the initial reports.
Other measures that have been approved to improve security checks at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) and other international airports in Malaysia include vetting access controls for those working in restricted areas. This could include flight crew, airline and ground staff, airport operator employees, vendors, and contractors.
The outlined improvements also included a more frequent drug testing program to operate periodic and random testing of pilots, cabin crew, and other relevant staff.
Security and intelligence agencies also plan to strengthen information-sharing through the National Immigration Command Centre in order to ensure a unified effort to protect Malaysia’s airports from similar crimes.
Malaysia’s Minister of Transport (MOT), Anthony Loke said further actions could be considered once the full findings of the investigation were published.
Pilot Arrested with Drugs in His Possession
The implementation of stronger security checks at Malaysian airports, and more thorough background checks for staff, is the result of the shocking incident that occurred at the end of July.
A pilot who worked for Malaysian Airlines was found with 14 bags of Ecstasy (over 70,000 tablets) in his suitcase, and 4g of methamphetamine in his hand luggage in Jakarta. The pilot had undergone all the required screening prior to boarding the plane at KUL.
His luggage went through security machines designed to flag suspicious contents but raised no alarm. The director-general of Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said that reviews would be conducted to find out how his bags passed through screening without being flagged.
Speaking at a press conference held in conjunction with the 61st Directors General of Civil Aviation Conference for the Asia-Pacific Region (DGCA/61) on Sept. 7, Loke made a statement about airport security, and the ongoing investigation into the case:
“The investigation is under the police. They have no obligation to inform us or to discuss with us the progress of the investigation, but we will give our cooperation by providing whatever information or access is needed, whether to our facilities or airports, as well as any personnel they want to interview or investigate.”
He added that strengthening checks of pilots, cabin crew, and other aviation personnel was “the least we could do” in light of the case.
Do you think these planned improvements to airport security are extensive enough, or should more be done in light of failed screening checks? Let us know in the comments below.
