NATIONWIDE — On Thursday, June 24, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that it will resume Crew Member Self-Defense (CMSD) training early next month.
The program, which was paused due to COVID-19 restrictions, trains flight crew members of how to keep passengers safe while onboard an aircraft.
With certified instructors, flight crew members are trained with effective defensive measure techniques in order to respond to an attacker on a commercial passenger or cargo aircraft. Crew members will learn to identify and deter potential threats as well as apply self-defense techniques against attackers.
Threatening or assaulting a member of the flight crew is considered a federal crime and perpetrators may face civil penalties, criminal fines, or possible jail time.
TSA stated in a June 24 release, “With unruly passenger incidents on the rise, TSA remains committed to equip flight crews with another tool to keep our skies safe.”
The voluntary course lasts approximately four hours and is free of charge. It is held in 24 locations around the United States, with the closest to the Hampton Roads region held in Washington D.C. It is open only to active crew members of all domestic scheduled carriers.
To learn more or to register for a course, visit the website by clicking here.