"Kids Breach Security At JFK Airport"

Monday, August 11, 2003

Kids Breach Security At JFK Airport
WABC-TV Ch 7 ABC, New York (NY)


What began as a prank by a group of kids has taken a serious turn. They
floated a raft into Jamaica Bay, then headed to JFK Airport and that's where
their trouble began.

Three people are behind a stunning security breach at Kennedy Airport.
Eyewitness News has learned they started on a raft and ended up walking
along a runway. Police questioned them about what they were doing. But the
bigger question is how did they go unnoticed.

N.J. Burkett is at Kennedy Airport with the exclusive details.

These guys never had to climb a fence, and they wandered the runways and
taxiways of Kennedy Airport for an hour entirely unchallenged. They got so
close that jets were taxiing right past them, and taking off almost directly
overhead. The police didn't find them, they found the police.

Travellers we spoke with are shaking their heads in disbelief at would
appear to be an alarming lapse in security at JFK.

Joel Phagoo, Brooklyn Resident: "Yeah they (the cops) were surprised. The
first guy who walked up to me, he was like, 'What are you doing here?' He
was all shocked and everything."

Joel Phagoo says he never intended to go to Kennedy Airport. He took his kid
brother and his 13-year-old cousin to a public park on Jamaica Bay, where
they launched an inflatable boat and went fishing.

Joel Phagoo: "It got pretty rough out there, and the waves started blowing
the boat towards the airport."

It was 8:30 p.m. Sunday night. Unable to make it back, they tied up to a
pier at the end of Runway 4 Right, climbed ashore, and started walking.

Joel Phaggo: "I was hoping somebody would drive up to us and say, 'Hey guys,
what are you doing here?' And when that didn't happen we just kept walking."

They kept walking for nearly an hour, past the runways, past the jets, and
they were never stopped or questioned once because, apparently, no one ever
knew they were there.

It was not until they made it clear across the airport, to Port Authority
Police Headquarters, that they were detained and questioned for three hours.

Joel Phagoo: "For somebody up to no good, they could have caused a lot of
damage, because the planes were taking off and landing maybe about 400 feet
from us. ... We got there by accident, but it wouldn't be hard for somebody
who wanted to intentionally be there to get there."

A spokesman for the Port Authority said an investigation was underway, but
refused to elaborate.

Gil Garcetti is the former D.A. of Los Angeles, and just flew in from the
West Coast.

Gil Garcetti, Fomer Los Angeles D.A.: "I think that anybody who travels
knows there's nothing foolproof about the security protection that's being
offered. I believe they're doing the very best job they can, but as they
proceed they see there's another little loophole, and they find there's
another opening here."

The Port Authority has refused to say what, if anything, they're going to do
about this. Joel and his two relatives were released at about 1:30 a.m.
Monday morning, no charges were filed.

Attached Photo's:

Three people are behind a stunning security breach at Kennedy Airport.
Eyewitness News has learned they started on a raft and ended up walking
along a runway. Police questioned them about what they were doing. But the
bigger question is how did they go unnoticed.

Joel Phagoo says he never intended to go to Kennedy Airport. He took his kid
brother and his 13-year-old cousin to a public park on Jamaica Bay, where
they launched an inflatable boat and went fishing.

It was 8:30 p.m. Sunday night. Unable to make it back, they tied up to a
pier at the end of Runway 4 Right, climbed ashore, and started walking.

It was not until they made it clear across the airport, to Port Authority
Police Headquarters, that they were detained and questioned for three hours.

Gil Garcetti, Fomer Los Angeles D.A.: "I think that anybody who travels
knows there's nothing foolproof about the security protection that's being
offered. I believe they're doing the very best job they can, but as they
proceed they see there's another little loophole, and they find there's
another opening here."

jfk1.jpg

jfk2.jpg

jfk3.jpg

jfk4.jpg

jfk5.jpg