"UK Airport Security Fears Raised"

Saturday, October 5, 2002

Airline authorities investigate claims undercover reporter gained job as
baggage handler using bogus references 
The Associated Press


LONDON - Airline authorities were investigating claims Saturday that an
undercover reporter obtained work as a baggage handler and boarded the
hold of a jetliner using bogus references. 

The Sunday Mirror tabloid newspaper said one of its journalists was
given direct access to Ryanair jets at London's Stansted airport after
giving three false references to get the job. 

Within a week of being taken on, he was given a pass allowing him access
to planes and passengers' luggage minutes before take off, the newspaper
said. 

According to the report, he applied for the position through an
employment agency, was given a 10-minute interview and told the British
Airports Authority (BAA) would run background checks. 

The newspaper claimed the only check that was made was a quick call to
friends named in the references and said nobody checked his employment
history. 

The BAA at Stansted said it would investigate the claims "to determine
whether any breach of procedures occurred and to investigate if the
airport security pass in question was attained by criminally fraudulent
means." 

Chris Yates, editor of Jane's Civil Aviation Security magazine,
described it as an "appalling lapse of security." 

Earlier this year the Sunday People tabloid newspaper said that one of
its reporters smuggled a miniature cleaver, stiletto knife and dagger
onto a British Airways flight.


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