China's first 2,000 sky police have started to work on international flights from China and some sensitive domestic air routes.

The plainclothes police are primarily drawn from sky security staff and regular police, reported China Radio International. 

The undercover officials are there to prevent hijackings and bombings and stop passengers' behaving badly on flights.

The sky police are entitled to use weapons if necessary and will receive extensive training.

(CRI.com September 17, 2004)