WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), a senior member of the Homeland Security Committee and an outspoken advocate for stronger aviation security, responded today to news reports that a Federal Air Marshal fired shots at a passenger who claimed he had a bomb on an American Airlines flight on the ground at Miami International Airport.  According to reports, the passenger threatened that he had a bomb in his carry-on bag and refused to obey instructions from an Air Marshal to stop and get to the ground in the jetway connecting the terminal and the plane.

“As today’s incident in Miami demonstrates, air marshals put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe.  Thanks to the efforts of an alert air marshal, an individual was prevented from causing a potentially dangerous situation on the American Airlines flight that could have harmed passengers and crew members.  Air marshals oppose TSA’s decision to lift the ban on razor-sharp scissor blades in the passenger cabins of airliners.  The Bush Administration should listen to them and call off its risky, misguided plan.  I have introduced the “Leave All Blades Behind Act” along with Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY) to reverse TSA’s actions,” said Rep. Markey

Last week, Rep. Markey criticized the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for relaxing restrictions on items that are permitted on passenger planes. TSA announced its plan to lift the ban on scissors and other sharp objects on passenger planes, effective later this month.

In response to TSA’s relaxing their restrictions, Reps. Markey and Crowley, a leading member of the New York City delegation, announced their plan to introduce the “Leave All Blades Behind Act”, which would preserve the current ban on scissors and other dangerous items in carry-on bags inside the passenger cabin of airliners.

For more information on Rep. Markey’s work to strengthen aviation security, please visit www.house.gov/markey.