Investigation Reveals Gaps In Airport Security
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – As we head into the busy summer travel season a new investigation has found some disturbing gaps in security at airports across the country.
Undercover agents were able to smuggle things, like explosives and weapons, through checkpoints.
The undercover agents with the Department of Homeland Security went to several American airports to see if TSA screeners could catch bombs and other weapons passing through security.
The results are troubling.
The internal investigation shows the undercover teams were able to get the banned items through the screening process 67 times out of 70.
They went through airport security with bomb parts like the ones used in the underwear bombing, which almost exploded aboard a Delta Airlines flight on Christmas Day in 2009.
"To miss 67 out of 70 different instances is extremely alarming, and I would say even dangerous," Former TSA official Chad Wolf said. "These are anomalies that TSA screeners and/or their equipment should locate and at least flag for an additional screening."
The Department of Homeland Security said it's immediately put a series of changes into place, at all airports, because of this report.
They include:
- Revise standard operating procedures for screening
- New training for all transportation security officers
- And re-testing and re-evaluating the screening equipment
Shortly after this report, Homeland Security announced top TSA official Melvin Carraway has been reassigned.
Its deputy director, Mark Hatfield, has been named administrator until a new one is appointed.
One TSA official said this report came out earlier than had expected.
The entire, official report on airport screenings is expected later this summer.
