The Federal Air Marshal Service is a U.S. federal agency. It was founded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to combat the rash of hijackings occurring during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The original air marshals were United States Marshals and later were specially trained FAA personnel. Their mission was to safeguard flights against aircraft hijacking ("skyjacking") and all other forms of crimes.
Under the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the air marshals were transferred to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Bureau of the Department of Homeland Security.
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