US Government Senator Charles Schumer and Representative Steven Israel have asked the Department of Homeland Security, Defense Department, and Federal Aviation Administration to consider technologies that would act as anti-missile countermeasures on commercial aircraft.
Schumer and Israel said that anti-missile devices included onboard lasers, warning systems, flares, and infrared systems, that would cost up to $2 million per aircraft.
Schumer said: “The tragedy of the Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 plus numerous missiles being fired near the Tel Aviv airport have made one thing clear this week: we cannot let this happen to an American passenger plane.”
Israel said: “we are once again reminded that an attack on a civilian aircraft remains a significant threat.”