"Governor rebukes TSA for Newark airport breach"

Tuesday, July 27, 2004

Governor rebukes TSA for airport breach 
McGreevey says security lapse highlights unresolved issues that put
travelers at risk 
BY RON MARSICO 
The Newark (NJ) Star-Ledger


A weekend security breach at Newark Liberty International Airport points
up lingering problems at the regional hub that must be rectified by
federal officials, Gov. James E. McGreevey said yesterday. 

McGreevey, in Boston for the Democratic National Convention, castigated
the U.S. Transportation Security Administration for the latest incident
at Newark Airport. 
   
"We are all very fortunate that this breach resulted only in
inconvenience for 1,000 passengers, and not in tragedy," McGreevey said
in a statement. 

On Sunday afternoon, TSA screeners in Terminal C lost track of an
elderly man with a prosthetic device after he set off a checkpoint
alarm, prompting an unsuccessful 90-minute search to find him. 

More than 1,000 passengers aboard 20 Continental Airlines flights that
took off during those 90 minutes had to be rescreened when their planes
landed to ensure security at those destinations was not compromised. 

TSA officials said the agency acted to minimize consequences of the
breach. 

"With regard to Sunday's incident, this certainly highlights the
importance of careful coordination between the TSA at airports across
the nation and with key stakeholders, including Continental Airlines,"
Amy von Walter, a TSA spokeswoman, said in a statement yesterday. "Given
the situation, the (local) federal security director took the necessary
steps to ensure the security of those impacted flights." 

In May, TSA officials acknowledged that screeners at Newark Airport were
unable to electronically screen 100 percent of checked bags for
explosives because of severe staffing shortages. By month's end,
however, the TSA said it had hired the necessary people and was properly
checking all checked luggage. 

McGreevey, however, citing a letter he wrote to U.S. Homeland Security
Secretary Tom Ridge, said more must be done. 

"In my letter to Secretary Ridge, I pointed out that the ongoing
security concerns were affecting the environment in which Newark's
screeners do their work -- and that the stress, long hours and lack of
resources could have a devastating effect on the screeners' critical
task." 

In response, von Walter said: "The TSA is committed to ensuring the
safety of the traveling public in Newark and at airports across the
nation. Staffing levels at Newark have been increased, and we have
already begun efforts to localize training and hiring in an effort to
provide the (local) federal security director with more autonomy and the
ability to address needs more quickly."


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