United States wants armed marshals on its Thailand flights

US authorities want to put air marshals on American-flagged airlines operating through Thailand in the wake of security threats.

Washington has sought permission to do so from top-level Thai officials who reportedly are still considering the matter, according to a source in Bangkok who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the issue.

The allowance, if granted, will apply chiefly to two US airlines operating frequent flights between Bangkok and US territory. The pair _ United and Delta _ are perceived to be direct targets of anti-US elements.

Thai authorities in the past have secretly allowed Israel and Australia to place air marshals _ defined as armed undercover law-enforcement officers assigned to prevent and interdict air piracy and acts of terrorism involving commercial aircraft _ on El Al and Qantas flights through Bangkok.

It could not be confirmed whether airlines of other countries considered US allies and operating through Bangkok such as British Airways and Lufthansa have deployed air marshals on Thai flights

But El Al, which operates flights between Thailand and Israel, makes no secret of the fact that it puts two air marshals on each flight, living up to its slogan of "Flying to Israel with Security and Ease".

Industry observers say the security threat against US interests remains strong even after the death of Osama bin Laden, with Thailand still seen as a staging ground for terrorism.

United and Delta maintain their own passenger-screening and baggage facilities at Suvarnabhumi in addition to the normal security procedures provided by the airport.

"Having air marshals on board US airlines is an added security measure in the same way as Israel does for El Al," said one veteran Thai pilot.

He said the US has a legitimate right to deploy air marshals on US-registered planes, whose cabins are technically regarded as US territory under that country's jurisdiction.

The number of air marshals _ referred to as sky marshals in the US _ is estimated in the thousands, a quantum leap from about 30 before the al-Qaeda attacks of Sept 11, 2001.

Air marshals have been on US planes for more than 40 years, but the ranks have risen with the growing threat of hijacking.

In this region, India also puts air marshals on Indian airline flights, but only in times of heightened security.