National Guard For NY Airport Security

Fox 40
Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Governor David A. Paterson today advised passengers traveling into
or out of New York airports to allow extra time to check in and
continue through security screenings prior to their flights. As these
measures will add time to standard pre-flight procedures, travelers
should arrive an additional hour earlier to mitigate delays.

The Governor also announced that the Task Force Empire Shield has
provided a supplementary force of approximately 80 National Guard
soldiers who will provide support during peak travel periods, focusing
on John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport.

The Governor first directed the Task Force to assemble the
supplementary force following the December 25 incident aboard a
Detroit-bound flight. They will be a consistent presence during busy
travel hours and also patrol ground transportation hubs on New
Year’s Eve.

“While many are shaken, this recent threat should not hamper
our holiday and future travel plans. We have taken the necessary
precautions to ensure the safety of all travelers and we ask that they
also continue to be observant of security measures and
protocols,” Governor Paterson said. “Our actions should not
raise the alarm, but rather demonstrate that we are working at the
local, state and federal levels to keep travelers safe.”

Full story here.