US air marshals to identify 'people of interest' on NZ-bound flights
Tuesday, 14 July 2026
Flights from the United States to Auckland could carry undercover - possibly armed - American air marshals from the end of August, with officers able to identify passengers of interest during the flight and alert New Zealand police when the aircraft lands.
The Post has seen internal Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment communication which says any passenger flagged by an In-Flight Security Officer (IFSO), more commonly known as air marshals, would be brought to the attention of police at the arrival gate, while non-citizens could be referred to border officials for further assessment.
It’s expected that the officers would be on about one flight per month, the communication said.
Associate Transport Minister James Meager confirmed Cabinet had approved an agreement with the United States allowing the air marshals to operate on US-registered flights travelling to and from New Zealand.
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He said the arrangement was expected to take effect once legal, regulatory and operational steps required under the memorandum of understanding were completed, likely by the end of next month.
The air marshals are allowed to be armed but Meager said that would be an operational decision that would be taken at the discretion of the Transport Security Administration (TSA).
“IFSOs on flights is common practice around the world and many Kiwis who have flown internationally would have likely been on a flight with them on board, without realising. This is a standard agreement which has been widely adopted internationally,” Meager said.
“The MOU simply aligns New Zealand with our closest neighbours and international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.”
The agreement came about as part of broader aviation security measures undertaken by the United States, he said.
Meager did not say what the purpose of the officers was, but the TSA says it employs plain-clothes law enforcement officers who work undercover on commercial flights to “detect, deter and defeat hostile acts”.
“TSA’s Federal Air Marshals are highly skilled and trained law enforcement officers who are ready to respond to any threat either in the air or on the ground.
“Not only do Federal Air Marshals quietly monitor flights for suspicious activity and respond instantly to in-flight threats, but they also train flight crews on how to handle security situations.”
US airlines that fly to New Zealand include United and American Airlines. Air NZ confirmed the air marshals would not be on its flights.
Meager said the air marshals would be subject to New Zealand laws, like any other individual, once they entered the country.
“While the arrangement provides the option, there remains no intention for New Zealand to deploy IFSOs on New Zealand-registered aircraft. Kiwis will not have IFSOs on their domestic flights, or on international flights registered to us.
“New Zealand continues to favour land-based aviation security measures, such as security search and screening, patrols, and physical security measures at our airports.”
He said operational details would remain confidential to protect security and the integrity of deployments, in line with international aviation standards.