VOA标准英语2015--俄飞机灾难后华盛顿关注航空安全

（单词翻译）

Washington Eyes Aviation Security After Russian Jet Disaster 俄飞机灾难后华盛顿关注航空安全

WASHINGTON—

Washington is renewing its focus on international aviation security as evidence increasingly points to the possibility that a bomb destroyed a Russian passenger airliner¹ over Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, killing² all 224 people aboard the jet.

Although much of the tragedy remains³ shrouded⁴ in mystery, a clue emerged from the doomed⁵ Airbus’ cockpit voice recorder that could point to a bomb.

“A noise was heard in the last second of the CVR recording,” said Egyptian lead investigator⁶ Ayman El-Muqadem.

While further analysis continues, a claim of responsibility was repeated on social media.

“With God’s help, the fighters of the Caliphate managed to down the Russian plane over Sinai,” said a message in Arabic purportedly⁷ from the Islamic State (IS) group.

U.S. lawmakers are reaching their own conclusions.

“I am almost ready to conclude that it was either ISIS or an ISIS affiliate,” said Republican Congressman⁸ Peter King, using and alternate acronym⁹ for the group. He spoke¹⁰ on ABC’s This Week program.

“ISIS has now fully¹¹ eclipsed al-Qaida as the gravest terrorist threat in the world,” said Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff, speaking on the same program.

Schiff, who is the top Democrat¹² on the House Intelligence Committee, said IS appears to have discovered a vulnerability in international aviation that requires urgent attention.

“ISIS may have concluded that the best way to defeat airport defenses is to go around them with the help of someone on the inside.  And if that is the case, there are at least a dozen airports in the region and beyond that are vulnerable to the same kind of approach,” he said.

Schiff added that European and U.S. international carriers could be at particular risk.  At major U.S. airports, screening procedures have been boosted in recent days.  

Meanwhile, Russia and Britain have suspended flights to Egypt as the probe of the Metrojet disaster continues.