The Blue Lightning Initiative (BLI) is an element of the DHS Blue Campaign, led by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and DHS Component Agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The BLI trains aviation personnel to identify potential traffickers and human trafficking victims, and to report their suspicions to federal law enforcement. To date, more than 350,000 personnel in the aviation industry have been trained through the BLI, and actionable tips continue to be reported to law enforcement.
The “FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016,” signed by the President on July 15, 2016, requires air carriers to provide initial and annual flight attendant training regarding recognizing and responding to potential human trafficking victims. The "FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018", signed by the President on October 5, 2018, expands the requirement to include “ticket counter agents, gate agents, and other air carrier workers whose jobs require regular interaction with passengers on recognizing and responding to potential human trafficking victims.” Becoming a BLI partner and using the virtual training is a simple and responsible way to adhere to the new requirements.
The BLI training is 25 minutes in length, and is comprised of four lessons that include:
- What is Human Trafficking?
- Indicators of Human Trafficking Activity
- Reporting Suspected Human Trafficking
- Indicator Challenge
Participating BLI partners instruct their employees using the BLI virtual training module and associated printed educational materials. The training may be integrated into partners' initial or refresher training for flight attendants, pilots, customer service representatives, and other aviation industry personnel.
The BLI training illustrates common indicators of trafficking that aviation employees may encounter, and how to immediately report suspected trafficking to law enforcement.
The BLI’s real-time reporting mechanism gives law enforcement the ability to research and analyze information, and to coordinate an appropriate and effective response.
To alert authorities about suspected trafficking, as outlined in the BLI training, aviation employees can follow their organization's internal reporting protocol and contact the Homeland Security Investigations Tip Line (1-866-347-2423 or via webform).
For airlines and aviation industry organizations wanting to learn more about using the BLI to inform their employees about human trafficking and their reporting options, contact BlueCampaign@hsi.dhs.gov and trafficking@dot.gov for more information.
Participation is open to aviation industry organizations including airlines, airports, associations, training institutes, university aviation departments, and aviation companies.
The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Transportation are pleased to partner with the following organizations in combating human trafficking through the Blue Lightning Initiative. This list of active partners will be updated periodically.
Airlines
- Air Transport International
- Alaska Seaplanes
- Alaska Airlines
- Allegiant Air
- American Airlines
- Atlas Air
- Avelo Airlines
- Berry Aviation
- Breeze Airways
- Chantilly Air
- CommuteAir
- Contour Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- Delux Public Charter
- Elevate Jet, LLC
- Endeavor Air
- Fedex Express
- Frontier Airlines
- Grant Aviation
- Global Crossing Airlines
- Hillwood Airways
- Horizon Air
- Hyannis Air Service
- IBC Airways
- Jet Aviation
- JetBlue Airways
- Kalitta Charters
- Key Lime Air
- Mesa Airlines
- NetJets Aviation
- Norse Atlantic Airways
- Omni Air International
- Premier Jets, Inc.
- Redtail Air
- Republic Airways
- Silver Airways
- SkyWest Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
- Spirit Airlines
- Sun Country Airlines
- UPS Airlines
- Waltzing Matilda Aviation
Airports
- Airports Authority of Trinidad & Tobago
- Albert J. Ellis Airport
- Allegheny County Airport Authority
- Appleton International Airport
- Barkley Regional Airport
- Bishop International Airport
- Capital Region Airport Commission (Richmond International Airport)
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
- Clark County Department of Aviation
- Coastal Carolina Regional Airport
- Colorado Springs Airport
- Columbia Metropolitan Airport
- Concord-Padgett Regional Airport
- Corpus Christi International Airport
- Dallas Fort Worth International
- Dayton International Airport
- Daytona Beach International Airport
- Des Moines International Airport
- Elko Regional Airport
- El Paso International Airport
- Fairbanks International Airport
- Fairfield County Airport
- False River Regional Airport
- Gerald R. Ford International Airport
- Greater Orlando Aviation Authority
- Houston Airport System
- Huntsville International Airport
- Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport
- Juneau International Airport
- Kenton County Airport Board
- King County International Airport
- Lee County Port Authority
- Lincoln Airport Authority
- Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport
- Manchester Boston Regional Airport
- Martha's Vineyard Airport
- Miami International Airport
- Milwaukee Mitchell International
- Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA)
- Naples Airport Authority
- Norfolk Airport
- Northeast Ohio Regional Airport
- Oklahoma City Airport Trust
- Paine Field Airport
- Philadelphia International Airport
- Phoenix Aviation Department
- Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
- Portland International Airport
- Port of Seattle Airport (SEA)
- Portsmouth International Airport
- Punta Gorda Airport
- Rapid City Regional Airport
- Redding Regional Airport
- Rhode Island Airport Corporation
- Richmond International Airport
- Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport
- Rogue Valley International - Medford Airport
- "Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) / Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority"
- Sacramento International Airport
- San Antonio International Airport
- Santa Maria Airport
- Salt Lake City International Airport
- South Bend International Airport
- Stillwater Regional Airport
- Syracuse Regional Airport Authority
- Toledo Express Airport
- Tucson Airport Authority
- Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust
- Yuma County Airport Authority
Associations
- American Association of Airport Executives
- Air Medical Operators Association
- Airborne Public Safety Association
- Air Line Pilots Association, International
- Air Transport Association of America d/b/a Airlines for America
- Association of Flight Attendants
- Helicopter Association International
- Latino Pilots Association
- National Air Carrier Association
- National Air Transportation Association
- NATA Compliance Services
- Regional Airline Association
Training Institutes
- Cypress College
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- Inter-American University of Puerto Rico
- Liberty University
- Locked On
- Middle Tennessee State University
- Ohio Department of Public Safety
- The Ohio State University – Center for Aviation Studies
- SkyAngels
- University of North Dakota – Department of Aviation
Companies
- Aero Industries
- Clear
- Downey Aviation Services
- Expedia
- Freedom Aviation Network
- Global Elite Group
- Hallmark Aviation Services
- Mead & Hunt
- Modern Aviation
- ProJet Aviation
- Prosegur USA
- Richmond Jet Center
- Ross & Baruzzini, Inc.
- Safety and Security Instruction
- Sheltair Aviation Services
- Signature Aviation
- Sonoma Aviation
- SPARROW Executive Jets
- Travelers Aid International
- Travelers Aid of Inland Empire
- Virtower Airports
International Partners
*Disclaimer: These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organization or individual. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.
Airlines and aviation industry organizations can post the Blue Lightning Initiative poster, indicator card or basic Blue Campaign human trafficking awareness materials inside aircrafts as well as air the Blue Campaign infographic on pre-flight videos to educate passengers to recognize and report human trafficking.
We all have a responsibility to be vigilant. Passengers and the general public can help by learning the basic indicators of human trafficking by taking DHS Blue Campaign's general awareness training to recognize and report human trafficking.
