Who is authorized to be armed onboard contracted and military aircraft?

The authorization for armed personnel onboard contracted and military aircraft primarily extends to law enforcement officers. This is because law enforcement officers are trained and certified in the use of firearms and are responsible for maintaining security and enforcing laws within their jurisdiction. Their presence on an aircraft helps to deter threats and respond effectively to any incidents that may occur during flight.

Other personnel, such as flight attendants, cargo handlers, or passenger guides, do not have the same level of training or legal authority to carry firearms in this context. Flight attendants have important safety responsibilities but are not typically armed; cargo handlers focus on the efficient movement of cargo and do not serve security roles; and while passenger guides may assist with customer service, they do not have security training or authority to be armed.

Therefore, the role and training of law enforcement officers make them the only group specifically authorized to be armed onboard contracted and military aircraft.