1.
SV PAN AIRLINE PILOTS BOARD AIRCRAFT
0.15

2.
SV INT. CREW MEMBER CHECKS LUGGAGE RACKS
0.21

3.
SV & CU, STEWARDS UNDERGO JUDO TRAINING ( 5 SHOTS )
0.48

4.
SV AIRPORT LOUNGE SCENE
0.53

5.
SV PASSENGER'S LUGGAGE BEING SEARCHED
0.59

6.
SV PASSENGER SEARCHED
1.07

7.
SV PAN, CREW WALK TOWARDS AIRCRAFT.
1.15



Initials JH/MR/VS/PS



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: WITH AIRLINES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD WORKING ACTIVELY TO DEVISE WAYS TO COMBAT AERIAL HIJACKERS, SOUTH KOREA RECENTLY CAME UP WITH HER OWN IDEA OF HOW TO HANDLE THE PROBLEM. THE SOUTH KOREAN NATIONAL AIRLINE HAS RECRUITED 14 FLIGHT STEWARDS WHO ARE EXPERT IN THE SELF-DEFENCE ART OF JUDO, OR TAEKWONDO.

THE SPECIAL STEWARDS WERE APPOINTED FOLLOWING THE HIJACKING LAST DECEMBER OF A SOUTH KOREAN AIRLINER TO NORTH KOREA. SINCE THE DECEMBER HIJACKING, THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF A DROP IN PASSENGER TRAFFIC IN SOUTH KOREA. THE AIRLINE HOPES THE INTRODUCTION OF THE STEWARDS WILL NOT ONLY DETER HIJACKERS, BUT ALSO SOOTHE THE FEARS OF PASSENGERS WORRIED ABOUT UNSCHEDULED FLIGHTS TO NORTH KOREA.

THE STEWARDS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN A RIGOROUS COURSE AT THE SEOUL POLICE COLLEGE, LEARNING MANY ASPECTS OF UNARMED COMBAT. THE MEN ALSO RECEIVE CLASSROOM SESSIONS WITH ADVICE ON HOW TO HANDLE A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND MAKE NORMAL IN-FLIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS.

AT SOUTH KOREAN AIRPORTS, HAND LUGGAGE IS REGULARLY SEARCHED FOR WEAPONS AND SOME PASSENGERS ARE SEARCHED. THE AIRCREWS ARE CAREFULLY BRIEFED BEFORE EACH FLIGHTS ON WHAT TO DO SHOULD A PASSENGER TRY TO DIVERT AN AIRCRAFT.

ALREADY STRINGENT SOUTH KOREAN SECURITY PRECAUTIONS HAVE BEEN INCREASED AT THE COUNTRY'S AIRPORTS IN THE WAKE OF LAST TUESDAY'S (31ST MARCH) HIJACKING BY STUDENTS OF A JAPANESE AIRLINES BOEING 727 WHICH HAS BEEN THE OBJECT OF A WAR OF NERVES AT SEOUL AIRPORT FOR THREE DAYS.