Air travel security should be tightened – Aviation experts

Aviation experts said that following the recent spate of air transportation tragedies airline and passenger safety measures should be tightened to ensure safe transportation.

Former Air Navigation Services Inspector and commercial pilot Nihal Lakshman de Silva said that Sri Lanka's aviation safety measures are extremely tight and added that room for high jacking flights is remote. He said that Sri Lankan Airlines have been asked to avoid flying over conflict zones.

IATA's Director General and CEO Tony Tyler, releasing a statement on the recent series of air accidents said,

“This has been a sad week for everyone involved with aviation.

Our heartfelt sorrow goes to all those who have lost their lives in these tragedies. And the industry's thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones.” “Every accident is one too many.

The greatest respect that we can pay to the memory of those involved is to leave nothing unturned in our quest to understand the cause and to take steps to ensure that it is not repeated,” he said.

“With three tragedies in such quick succession, many people will, understandably, be asking questions about aviation safety.

"Our number one priority is safety. And despite the events of the past seven days, flying is safe,” Tyler said.

“Every day, approximately 100,000 flights take to the sky and land without incident.

In 2013, more than three billion people flew and there were 210 fatalities. Regrettably, we have already surpassed that number this year.

But even so, getting on an aircraft is still among the safest activities that one can do,” he said.

“Safeguarding customers from harm as we transport them around the world is core to the mission of the aviation industry,” said Tyler.