"Screener Blamed for Security Snafu at San Jose Airport"

Monday, November 4, 2002

Screener Blamed for Security Snafu at San Jose Airport
By Tony Russomanno 
KCBS TV


We're learning more about a security snafu at San Jose Airport that
caused hours of delays for thousands of passengers.

The Transportation Security Administration says a screener who had not
been paying attention set off events that led to the evacuation of three
planes and parts of San Jose Airport Sunday. At least 16 flights were
delayed, affecting more than 2500 passengers.

A spokesman for the TSA said one of the new agency's screeners made a
routine swab test of a carry-on bag, and the test came back positive for
TNT explosives. The screener made a second test that also came back
positive for TNT, but instead of stopping the bag and its owner, the
screener went off to do something else, the spokesman said. Ten minutes
later, according to the security agency spokesman, the screener noticed
the explosives alarm light on the testing machine and called a
supervisor. By then, three planes had boarded and another had already
taken off.

Passengers were taken off the planes and forced to go through security
checkpoints again. Incoming flights were held on the tarmac and not
allowed to approach the gates. Passengers on the flight that had taken
off were screened when they landed at their destination in San Diego.
San Jose airport was jammed with delayed passengers. Most of them had
little or no information. The bedlam lasted through the afternoon and
into the evening.

The security agency never did find the original passenger and bag. A
third test of the swab on another machine was negative for explosives.

The TSA said the investigation into the incident was continuing. There
was no word on the future of the screener who was involved in checking
the carry-on bag. 


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