15PRL20 – Crew Members Held Hostage in Mali

15PRL20 20 November 2015

Crew Members Held Hostage in Mali

MONTREAL, Canada –The International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) is closely monitoring reports that 170 persons including crew members were being held hostage at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako, Mali; and that some of those in the hotel have been killed. Our thoughts are with the victims, hostages and their families.

IFALPA strongly condemns such attacks, and urgently calls for international cooperation to prevent them.

This hostage situation shows once again that crews who are in transit or on a layover can find themselves in the front line, in areas where the security situation is very difficult to predict and has the potential to change rapidly. IFALPA therefore reminds all operators of the need to include in their security program:

• a statement that each flight and layover should be subject to the decision of the pilot-in-command; taking account the latest available intelligence provided
• a continuous threat assessment and risk management of their destinations
• security measures for crew members during transits and layovers, including but not limited to transport to and from the hotel.
• provisions for extracting crews in specific circumstances such as terrorist attacks or civil unrest.

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Note to Editors: The International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations represents in excess of 100,000 pilots in more than 100 countries world-wide. IFALPA’s mission is to be the global voice of airline pilots, promoting the highest level of aviation safety and security world-wide and providing services, support and representation to all of its Member Associations. See the Federation website www.ifalpa.org

©2015 The International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations In the interests of flight safety, reproduction of this Press Release in whole or in part is encouraged. It may not be offered of sale or used commercially. All reprints must credit IFALPA.

For more information contact Anna Lou, IFALPA Communications & Marketing Coordinator, at tel +1 514 419 1191 or annalou@ifalpa.org