The US House of Representatives has voted overwhelmingly to allow airline pilots to carry guns in the cockpit to defend their planes against terrorist attacks.
The legislation will allow guns for more than 70,000 pilots if they agree to undergo training.
Provisions that would have limited the programme to some 1,400 pilots, about two per cent of those flying, were rejected.
Despite the strong House support, prospects in the Senate are not good for the legislation. The White House also opposes the legislation.
The guns-in-cockpits question is among a host of aviation security issues that arose after the September 11th terrorist attacks. In this case, House Republican leaders have been at odds with the administration, which has repeatedly argued that cockpit crews should focus on flying planes and let air marshals worry about security.
Though Republican and Democratic leaders of the House Transportation Committee agreed to arm only a fraction of the pilots, rank-and-file lawmakers voted to expand the programme to any pilot who volunteers.
"If there is a credible threat that requires arming pilots, why would you restrict yourself?" said an amendment sponsor, Representative Peter DeFazio.
"Having that minuscule number of pilots trained and armed would not make any sense. If the pilots should be armed, there should be some significant number."
The measure will also require more self-defence training for flight attendants and give the Transportation Security Administration 90 days to act on an airline's request to equip pilots with non-lethal weapons such as stun guns.
Pilot unions have lobbied for the right to carry guns, but the airline industry has opposed the idea, saying stronger cockpit doors and the presence of air marshals provide protection against hijackings.
AP