Federal regulators are proposing to restrict foreign aircraft flying into and from New York and Washington and over Somerset County, Pennsylvania, on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks.
A Federal Aviation Administration official said the restrictions proposed for September 11 and 12 haven’t been approved yet, but they would ban flights from flying within 48 kilometres of Washington.
The proposed restrictions also include: -Banning international flights to and from Washington from 8:30am. to 11am. EDT on September 11.
-International flights at New York wouldn’t be permitted from 8am to noon, and 3.30pm. to 9.30pm. On September 12, the ban will be in effect from 9.30am. to 1pm and 7pm to 10.30pm. on September 12.
-Small aircraft flying to and from New York would be restricted from 7am on September 11 to 8pm on September 13.
-Flights would not be allowed over Somerset County, Pennsylvania, where one of the four hijacked planes crashed, from 11.30am. to 2pm on September 11.
The restrictions, first reported by The Financial Times of London, would affect foreign-owned commercial and cargo aircraft.
”Clearly for international passengers it’s going to be a big inconvenience,” said David Stempler, president of the Air Travellers Association. ”For other passengers, the discussion about this flight ban may raise further anxieties on and around September 11.” – Sapa-AP