London: The executive jet industry must be better regulated to avoid hijackings for terrorist attacks, a British government watchdog said on Monday.
Lord Carlile, the Home Office's independent reviewer of terrorism laws, said companies that rent out flying hours in executive jets to businessmen and wealthy travellers should be subject to European Union and UK security regulations.
"It is possible to purchase, from reputable international companies, piloted flying hours in sophisticated executive jets capable of high speed travel from continent to continent. The risk of hijacking of such aircraft is not fanciful," Carlile said in a report on Britain's anti-terrorism laws.
Schemes that offer shared ownership of executive jets should also be subject to tighter controls.
The September 11 plane attacks on New York and Washington have raised fears that the growing executive jet industry could be vulnerable to hijackings.
Carlile said the government and the aviation industry must ensure passenger information was fully available and that the aircraft were being policed internationally.
"The operators, wishing to retain their certifications and reputations, have a strong interest in full cooperation with the authorities," he added.
"The important thing is that there should always be a vigilant watch for the unusual and unexpected."
In his report into the operation last year of the Terrorism Act 2000, Carlile also said British police were overusing anti-terrorism stop and search powers that have not been found to prevent attacks and risk provoking a public backlash.
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