Federal air marshals spend a lot of time on commercial flights reading , staying inconspicuous . If they 're doing their job right , pilots should not notice air marshals aboard flight . List of air marshals originates in early 1960s , when warned of aircraft to be hijacked . `` They work in the air and on the ground as a last line of defense , but if they 're doing the job right , you do n't know they 're there . '' Background in law enforcement not required but preferred .
Federal air marshals spend a lot of time on commercial flights reading , staying inconspicuous . If they 're doing their job right , pilots should not notice air marshals aboard flight . List of air marshals originates in early 1960s , when warned of aircraft to be hijacked . Background in law enforcement not required but preferred .