Blue Lightning Initiative | Homeland Security
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Blue Lightning Initiative
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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
DeluxPublic Charter
Elevate Jet, LLC
Endeavor Air
FedexExpress
Frontier Airlines
Global Crossing Airlines
Horizon Air
Hyannis Air Service (Cape Air)
IBC Airways
Jet Aviation
JetBlue Airways
Kalitta Charters
Key Lime Air
Mesa Airlines
NetJets Aviation
Premier Jets, Inc.
Redtail Air
Republic Airways
Silver Airways
SkyWest Airlines
Southern Airways Express
Southwest Airlines
Spirit Airlines
Sun Country Airlines
UPS Airlines
Waltzing Matilda Aviation
Airports
Airports Authority of Trinidad & Tobago
Allegheny County Airport Authority (Pittsburgh)
Appleton International Airport
Barkley Regional Airport
Bishop International Airport
Capital Region Airport Commission (Richmond International Airport)
Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
Coastal Carolina Regional Airport
Colorado Springs Airport
Columbia Metropolitan Airport
Concord-Padgett Regional Airport
Corpus Christi International Airport
Dallas Fort Worth International
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
Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Houston Airport System
Huntsville International Airport
Idaho Falls Regional Airport
Indianapolis International Airport
Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport
Jacksonville Aviation Authority
Juneau International Airport
Kansas City Aviation Department
King County International Airport
Lakeland International Airport
Lee County Port Authority
Lincoln Airport Authority
Los Angeles World Airports
Manchester Boston Regional Airport
Martha's Vineyard Airport
Miami International Airport
Milwaukee General Mitchell International
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA)
Naples Airport Authority
Norfolk Airport
Northeast Ohio Regional Airport
Oklahoma City Airport Trust
Palm Springs International 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
Riverside Municipal Airport
Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport
Sacramento International Airport
Salem-WilliametteValley Airport
Salt Lake City International Airport
San Antonio International Airport
Santa Maria Airport
Seattle Paine Field Airport
South Bend International Airport
Stillwater Regional Airport
Syracuse Regional Airport Authority
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport
Toledo Express Airport
Tucson Airport Authority
Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust
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
Latino Pilots Association
National Air Carrier Association
National Air Transportation Association
NATA Compliance Services
Regional Airline Association
Vertical Aviation International
Training Institutes
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Inter-American University of Puerto Rico
Liberty University
Middle Tennessee State University
Ohio Department of Public Safety
The Ohio State University – Center for Aviation Studies
University of North Dakota – Department of Aviation
Companies
Aero Center Spokane
Aero Industries
Air Tera
Downey Aviation Services
Expedia
Free to Fly
Freedom Aviation Network
Global Elite Group
Hallmark Aviation Services
JFK Millennium Partners
Mead & Hunt
Modern Aviation
ProJet Aviation
Prosegur USA
Richmond Jet Center
Ross & Baruzzini, Inc.
SC Aviation
Sheltair Aviation Services
Signature Aviation
Sonoma Aviation
SPARROW Executive Jets
Travelers Aid International
Travelers Aid of Inland Empire
Virtower Airports
International Partners
Sindicato Nacional Dos Aeronautas (SNA) - Brazilian Flight Crew Union
Norse Atlantic Airways AS
*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.
Topics
Human Trafficking
Keywords
Blue Campaign
Combatting Human Trafficking
Human Smuggling
Human Trafficking
To report suspected human trafficking to Federal law enforcement call
1-866-347-2423
To get help from the National Human Trafficking Hotline call
1-888-373-7888
or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733).
Para reportar un posible caso de trata de personas llame al
1-866-347-2423
Obtenga ayuda de la Línea Nacional de Atención contra la Trata de Personas llamando
1-888-373-7888
o enviando un mensaje de texto con HELP o INFO a BeFree (233733).
02/04/2026