DUSHANBE, November 18, 2015, Asia-Plus – Russian media outlets report that Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) is currently developing safety measures for aviation companies and airports to prevent illegal interruption in their activities.
“Taking into account the existing risks and threats, coming from extremist organizations, Rosaviatsia…is developing a set of security measures designed to prevent the acts of illegal interference with the activities of airlines and airports,” a statement released by Rosaviatsia on Tuesday said.
The statement added that the strengthening of the security measures would be temporary, however their implementation would increase the security of passengers and infrastructure.
Interfax
cited an official source at one of Russian air companies as saying that
Russia’s air carriers were recommended strengthening security measures when flying to 47 countries.
The air companies are reportedly recommended strengthening security measures when flying to airports in: Austria, Algeria, Albania, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, great Britain, Germany, Greece, Egypt, Indonesia, Spain, Italy, India, Iraq, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Cyprus, Kuwait, Libya, Lebanon, Morocco, Malaysia, Macedonia, Moldova, Myanmar, UAE, Pakistan, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Syria, USA, Sudan, Thailand, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Tunisia, France, the Philippines, Montenegro, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Sri Lanka.
The source specified that the air companies are recommended operating flights with stocks of drinking water and dry rations taken aboard at Russian airports.
We will recall that Russia’s security chief has confirmed that a “terrorist act” had brought down a Russian passenger plane over Egypt last month.
Metrojet”s Airbus A321 was heading from the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to St. Petersburg when it crashed in the Sinai Peninsula on October 31, killing all 224 people on board. Nearly all the dead were Russians.
An affiliate of the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for downing the plane, but Russia had said it was waiting for the official results of an investigation into the tragedy.
The head of Russia”s Federal Security Service (FSB), Alexander Bortnikov, told a meeting chaired by President Vladimir Putin late on November 16 that “traces of foreign explosives” were found on debris from the plane.
The Airbus “disintegrated in midair” after an improvised explosive device planted on board the jet went off, he said in footage that was released on November 17, “which explains the wide dispersal of fuselage pieces.”
Bortnikov said the bomb was equivalent to up to 1 kilogram of TNT.
