Sky Marshals powers
 

Hello, everybody

I have recently watched the Non-Stop movie with Liam Neeson, and found it very unrealistic.

So, I would like to ask a few questions.

What rights and powers do real air marshals have?

Do they have rights to search, detain, or interrogate anybody onboard?

Do they comply completely with captain's orders?

What would they actually do in reality, if some movie-like problem would occur and the suspect on board would require to be identified and found first, before he could just be neutralized and apprehended?

As I know, it never happened in reality, did it?

Would they search passengers on board if landing is impracticable and the threat is believed to be in one's carry-on or under one's clothes?

Thank you!

Best info I could find:
There are only TSA Federal Air Marshals. They are federal special agents. Their main jurisdiction is an airplane, yes. They do have a uniformed presence on light rail trains, shipping ports and in the cities where these forms of transportation exist. The patrols are in conjunction with local authorities called VIPR visible intertmodal prevention and response. Being federal agents, they have nationwide felony arrest authority and can carry weapons nationwide. State laws differ on recognizing misdemeanor arrest
authority.

BTW Liam Neeson movies are megalomaniacal and full of crap

Kitdun2000,
Welcome to Flyertalk. AS a new member, you may not be aware that cross-posting in multiple threads/fora is against the ToS.


You've posted this as a new thread in Practical Travel Safety Issues and also in an old thread in that forum.

This one will probably be closed by the moderators.

How realistic do you think the movie is, regarding Marshall's actions in this weird kind of situation?

What do you think would have been done in reality?
Would they really search and interrogate passengers right on board?
Or would anybody ask people to keep quiet, while threatening all of them with a gun?

That's why the movie viewing public likes them so much.:D

Based on the very few air incidents (in recent years), their main function is to fly in first class (b/c) and avail themselves of the (non-alcoholic) associated amenities at govt expense.:D:D:D

You left out the part about being on the in-flight and at-airport prowl for new sexual partners/encounters. One female FAM even got impregnated by the male celebrity she sat next to in first class on a flight.

If first class had more female FAMs, perhaps the howling about FAMs would be different. :eek:

What are they actually allowed to do while in flight?

Well let's see, recently they have handcuffed and detained people causing disturbances, and if the only training videos they have posted are any indication they practice often to shoot "evildoers" as needed.

There are various media accounts of them acting in flight to deal with disorderly pax including a few reports here on flyer talk.

And of course the upskirting and sex mentioned above!

Mile High Club or did it happen off-duty? :D

This might help. (Aside from the rabid opinion bits in the link, it's got the basic details)

Please, guys, I am serious :)
It is obvious that they can use force on somebody, who already caused some trouble, but what about a little investigation?
How realistic Neeson character's actions are, and are they legally allowed to do something of that sort?

As with FAM history of on-the-ground retention of sexual services from prostitutes, they probably more usually start by using hotel rooms -- often reimbursed by the government -- or a car than their own residential addresses. In-flight use of the bathroom or a blanket in first class is too conspicuous for that conspicuous lot.

That was just a single case
Of course they are people too :)
Please, answer!
Does anybody know?

Sure, but when it's done on Uncle Sam's dime and/or time, the propriety of some actions may come into question.

Fictional movies embellish, exaggerate and more generally take creative license. You have to specify what exact actions shown are of concern to you.

They have done in-flight searches before, but they generally aren't to break cover except under exceptional circumstances -- but these characters don't all stick to that in-flight either and can be rather explicit or conspicuous in-flight too.

Given they are LEOs and federal LEOs at that, they have federal LEO authorization and limitations.

They aren't allowed to drink alcohol on the government's dime and not in-flight.

I am concerned with his attempts to find the bad guy by searching and threatening other passengers in-flight.
Or, for example, are they allowed to tell passengers to do some weird things, like sitting quietly with their hands visible to listen for the phone to ring etc?
When did they do in-flight searches in reality?
Are they allowed to do the same things to the crew?
I thought they should be limited with the captain authority more, than with their usual law enforcement powers...

You do understand it was a fictional movie?

Can you think of any Hollywood cop film that bears any resemblance to real life?

The mundane life of a FAM doesn't make for a good screenplay.

Anyway, AFAIK, there are no FAMs posting on FT. If they're lurking, they probably won't answer your questions. It's probably some SSI thing.

There are several cop forums out there, you should try posting there. Or, post your questions at blog.tsa.gov. Probably won't get an answer from them either, but you never know.....

Your line of questioning is kind of giving me the creeps! Why so curious?

Movies like Blade or The Matrix must have you really upset then, yes?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kitdun2000 View Post
I am concerned with his attempts to find the bad guy by searching and threatening other passengers in-flight.
Or, for example, are they allowed to tell passengers to do some weird things, like sitting quietly with their hands visible to listen for the phone to ring etc?
When did they do in-flight searches in reality?
Are they allowed to do the same things to the crew?
I thought they should be limited with the captain authority more, than with their usual law enforcement powers...
Your line of questioning is kind of giving me the creeps! Why so curious?


Exactly, in addition to the fact that he posted in about 3 forums on the
same day, needing an immediate answer about a stupid movie. Weird.

Even though (most...nearly all:p) movies are all fiction, it is sometimes interesting to look for flaws in the plot--that movie has lots of them.:D
I was more concerned with his ability to thwart the smoke detectors in the toilet--if what he did would work, it might give other pax "bad" ideas.:td:

Don't they have a very particular set of skills, skills acquired over a long career?
Skills that make them a nightmare for people like you?

That's from a different movie. TAKEN.:D

At least his skill set was transferrable.;)

a few possibilities:

1) trying to get post count up.
2) takes movies way too seriously.
3) Hoping to be first to point out the most inconsistencies between movie and real life
4) future terrorist in the making

5) Future TSA clerk hoping it's gonna be as real as in the movies.

Listen if you are an air marshall or flip burgers at McDonalds and someone is trying to down a flight you are on I fully expect a valiant effort to stop that person even if it includes questioning, searching and yes shooting the dope.
I believe no permisión is needed by anybody to save their on neck

Sky marshals are federal law enforcement agents with arrest power nationwide, just like FBI or DEA agents.

However, they are trained to intervene only in extreme situations. They let airline staff handle all incidents and intervene only when it is clear that the incident is beyond the staff's ability to respond. They will usually not even respond if someone commits a crime on the plane, unless the safety of other passengers is threatened and flight attendants are unable to control the situation. Rather, they will allow the airline staff to call local police to meet the plane upon landing and make an arrest.

I am a really curious person. All that is just for my information, as I am greatly interested in all things, related to aviation and flying.
I understand there are movies that are completely unrealistic, and movies, that are fictional, but could possibly be real. I do understand that this is just a fictional movie, and this is what I am trying to get, what would the difference be, if this happened in reality?
Of course, they can engage hijackers, if they have no other choice.
Do they have a real arrest power in flight, or they can just handcuff or otherwise neutralize the bad guy and do the legal stuff upon landing? I understand, there is no real difference, again, just for my information.
Do they have a legal power to search anybody in flight?
And did they ever have to do so for some reason?
I am asking because ICAO documents and international legal agreements describe procedures for the crews to search their aircraft, if needed, but they always require to land, in order to search passengers.
What will they do if some person, either known or unknown commits a crime, and it does threat other passengers?
Thank You

They can search anyone like any other LEO could. The legality of that search will be determined later in a court of law. If they start rummaging through everyone's bag in the overhead looking for drugs and find some, they could arrest the person and have them charged with a crime. Chances are it will get thrown out as an illegal search unless they had probable cause for the search in the first place. It would be 100% against their mission though, so they would probably lose their job for breaking cover for something that was not a threat to the aircraft.

Now if someone jumps up and says they have a bomb or are hijacking the plane, they would have probable cause to stop with force if necessary, arrest and search that person.

Thank you
The last two posts have given me the answer

And a few more questions, guys
What will the airplane crew do, if for some reason Marshall decides to discover himself?
If a crime is committed on board by someone unknown and chances are that it is threatening the safety, or it will repeat, will they respond, or just let the airplane land as soon as possible?
Does the crew get the information who is their Marshall, if he or she is present?

Flight crew -- at least one of them on board -- know who the FAMs are on their flight. Traditionally they have also been informed about the other armed LEOs or authorized cabin gun-bearing passengers on their flights.

I am speaking of US airlines here. Foreign airlines with armed guards don't have all the same practices, even as many of the practices are very much akin.

Are you trying to write a sequel to a movie or a new movie plot? It's already been considered. ;)

No, I am not interested in making a new movie, at least, for now, I am not a moviemaker.
That is just for my information :)
I have read, that in case the Marshall decides to do something, the crew should provide coordinated response, to assist him.
Anybody knows, what does it mean?
Is there anything, besides an armed hijacker in sight, that the Marshalls should respond to?

It's generally regarded as reasonable for them to start shooting if the pax in steerage try to use the toilets in First, or if the bubbly runs out. HTH

I heard they can start shooting when someone asks too many questions about their job and ask later!

But wait, there's more!

Keep asking too many questions and the feds will be knocking on your door

Asking questions is not a crime. I'm not sure why people are jumping on the OP for that.

But, too many questions sends up red flags.