The United States indefinitely delayed Wednesday a full re-opening of civil airspace because of security fears raised by intelligence services, the authorities said.
Only diverted planes were being allowed to break a general shutdown to allow passengers to reach their final destinations, and even then only under stringent new security rules.
"I cannot give you a date or time as to when we will be back in operation," Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta told a news conference.
The US transport boss said he had hoped to re-open the skies at midday (1600 GMT) Wednesday.
But the plan was ditched following intelligence from the FBI and other agencies and after a National Security Council meeting chaired by President George W. Bush, said Mineta.
"The determination was made to put off operations until we are sufficiently secure in our own information about when to resume," said the transport secretary, who attended the Security Council meeting.
A decision to restart depended on an assessment of passenger and airline safety and would be based on intelligence reports, Mineta said.
All civilian planes were banned from take-off in the United States at 1325 GMT Tuesday under the first "ground stop" order in US history.
The emergency shutdown was implemented as hijackers took over four commercial aircraft with a total 266 people aboard and used them in suicide missions against the United States, destroying the World Trade Center and punching a hole in the Pentagon.
The limited opening of US airspace was the first small step in an unprecedented task of switching back on the US civil air transport system, which carries 1.6 million people on a normal day with 36,000 to 40,000 departures.
US skies, which would normally be crowded with 5,500 planes during a mid-week afternoon, are empty of civil aircraft.
But the challenge of resuming operations is being complicated by the authorities' determination to ensure tight security.
Only passengers on the original diverted flights would be allowed to reboard, and only after airports and airlines had implemented strict screening measures, Mineta said.
International US-bound flights that were diverted to Canada during the crisis would be allowed to continue under the ruling.
Airlines would also be allowed to reposition empty aircraft.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it was immediately banning passengers from carrying aboard any cutting implements such as scissors or knives of any material or size.
Previously, the FAA only barred knives with blades longer than four inches (10 centimeters).
Airlines would only be allowed to provide passengers with plastic knives and butter knives to eat their meals, an FAA spokesman said.
The hijackers used knives and box cutters to take control of flights on Tuesday, US Attorney General John Ashcroft said.
Mineta announced a list of tightened security measures for airports once they reopen.
They included a thorough search and security check of all airplanes and airports before passengers board, and an end to curbside check-ins under which people can book in bags outside the airport building.
All passengers with baggage would now have to check in at ticket counters. Boarding areas would be off-limits to everyone but passengers.
Vehicles near airport terminals would also be monitored more closely.
"I know all Americans want us to move as quickly and prudently as possible to return our transportation system to normal and we will, as soon as we can do safely," Mineta said -- WASHINGTON (AFP)
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
