Japan on Thursday began deploying “sky marshals” — armed police officers — on board commercial flights to deter hijacking and terrorist attacks, sources familiar with the system said. The system is part of a package of measures drawn up by the government in its action plan, adopted last Friday, to prevent terrorists from entering Japan. The measure relating to sky marshals is the first to be taken under the package. The sky marshals, dressed in plain clothes, will board the plane like any other passenger but will be carrying guns equipped with special bullets that will not cause damage to the plane, the sources said. Full Story