Federal Authorities Still Watching Crop Dusters

The FBI is continuing to monitor crop dusters in light of suspicions that al-Qaeda may be seeking small airplanes for chemical and biological attacks in the United States, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, April 23).

“We have an interest in what we believe the bad guys have an interest in, and we believe the bad guys still have an interest in aircraft,” said Robert Jordan, the FBI’s head agent in Oregon. “And agricultural aircraft has the unique ability to aerate chemicals and spread them over an area, and that has some ominous consequences, depending on who is being sprayed.”

“I don’t anticipate us losing our interest in that type of industry in the foreseeable future,” he said (Associated Press, Nov. 22).

Back to top
About Newswire  |  Contact National Journal  |  Re-Use Guidelines © Copyright 2008 by National Journal Group, Inc. The material in this section is produced independently for NTI by National Journal Group, Inc. Any reproduction or retransmission, in whole or in part, is a violation of federal law and is strictly prohibited without the consent of the National Journal Group, Inc. All rights reserved.