The government is encouraging private jet owners and airports to boost security after a message posted in Arabic on a Web forum last week urged Muslims to destroy such aircraft.
The Transportation Security Administration issued a security advisory that quoted the message as saying, “Destroy private American aircraft.... We call upon all Muslims to follow and identify private civilian American aircrafts in all airports of the world.”
“It is the duty of Muslims to destroy all types of private American aircrafts that are of the types Gulf Stream and Lear Jet and all small jet aircraft usually used by distinguished (people) and businessmen,” the April 13 message said, according to the TSA.
The advisory, issued Thursday, said the posting explained how to identify U.S. airplanes and revealed the tail number of a plane allegedly used by the CIA. It encouraged private jet owners and airport operators to look out for unauthorized or unusual people, cargo and aircraft.
Despite the advisory, TSA spokeswoman Amy von Walter said there is “no specific credible threat.”
The agency said the theft of any private airplane should be reported immediately to the TSA and any suspicious activity should be reported immediately to the TSA and local police.
Douglas Carr, vice president for security at the National Business Aviation Association, said the advisory reinforces the need to be vigilant against terrorist threats.
“We do take it very seriously,” Carr said.
