GEORGE TOWN: Airport security systems are already robust and do not require an overhaul following the recent arrest of a Malaysia Airlines pilot in Jakarta over alleged drug smuggling, says a former MAS chief pilot.
Captain Mohd Kamil Abu Bakar said the security systems, procedures, and equipment were not the problem. Instead, the weakness lay in the personnel manning the systems and whether procedures were properly followed.
“As a pilot who flew for 42 years and as a passenger, let me assure you: there is nothing wrong with the security systems in airports, not only at KLIA but throughout the world. The weakness is in the man — the personnel manning the systems and their adherence to procedures,” he said in a statement on Thursday (Aug 6).
Mohd Kamil, a former MAS chief pilot for flight safety and security and former director of flight operations, said airport security screening for aircrew was no different from that for passengers.
He said crew members were not exempted from screening, although they might be given priority or directed to dedicated crew lanes to ensure they reached the aircraft on time.
"They still have to go through the same security checks. No crew member is given an exception," he said.
Mohd Kamil said he had undergone stringent screening at airports around the world, including being detained for hours in Los Angeles and subjected to additional checks because of his Muslim name.
He also recalled being stopped by Customs officers in Johannesburg after drug-sniffing dogs detected the scent of pisang rastali in his luggage, only to find fruit and personal belongings.
He said such experiences showed that it was not easy for anyone, including airline crew, to evade Customs checks.
On allegations that the pilot had operated a passenger flight while under the influence of drugs, Mohd Kamil reiterated that the pilot had not flown the aircraft.
He added that determining whether someone was under the influence of narcotics required qualified personnel and proper testing equipment.
He also noted that flight crew passed through multiple checkpoints before boarding an aircraft, including dispatchers, security personnel, engineers and fellow crew members, any of whom could notice if someone appeared impaired.
Mohd Kamil also agreed that airlines should strengthen psychological screening and mental wellness safeguards for pilots.
He said airlines and the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) should ensure pilot recruitment included thorough background checks, personality assessments and psychological evaluations.
"Not everyone can become a pilot. Besides academic qualifications, candidates must also be assessed for their character, personality and psychological suitability," he said.
