In response to the attempted takeover of an aeroplane at the Sangster International Airport on April 19, the Ministry of National Security has posted uniformed armed police officers between the screening and aircraft facilities, MBJ Airports Limited says.

Addressing stakeholders during an airport forum at the facility yesterday, Sangster's Chief Operations Officer Vincent Miller told the gathering that uniformed police officers were just one of the many components that have been put in place to beef up security in the airport.

"Through technology and communication we now have instant notification to the police within seconds, if there is an incident," Miller told The Gleaner.

The new system is above the internationally required standard, which sees police response to emergencies set at five minutes.

According to Miller, some of the additional measures were put in place 24 hours after the incident in which 22-year-old Stephen Fray reportedly brandished a gun and forced his way past unarmed port security officers.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com