"Security Breach At Newark Airport"

Monday, January 31, 2005

Security Breach At Newark Airport
By Jim Hoffer
WABC-TV Ch 7 (ABC), New York (NY)


A passenger triggered an alarm at one of the checkpoints. But then the
passenger disappeared. 

Officials shutdown the checkpoint, but not the terminal - and that's not the
way the drill is supposed to go. It's a security breach that is tonight
troubling some experts. 

One congressman saying it may be time to take disciplinary action. How does
a passenger stopped by security to be screened slip away? Lack of training?
Perhaps too few workers at the checkpoints? Whatever the problem,
Newark-Liberty Airport is dealing with the fallout of yet another security
breach. 

For at least 20 minutes yesterday, security at Newark Airport's Terminal C
lost track of a passenger after she had triggered an alarm at one of the
checkpoints. She had somehow slipped through what is supposed to be the last
line of defense before boarding a plane. 

Charles Slepian, Aviation Security Expert: "When you have someone who
triggers suspicion by setting off a magnetometer, there's no excuse for
losing a passenger." 

For 20 minutes, Port Authority Police and TSA security failed to find the
passenger. One TSA worker called Eyewitness News to say that TSA managers
violated their own protocols by not closing the terminal and evacuating all
passengers. This congressman who sits on an aviation subcommittee agrees. 

Rep. Robert Menendez - (D), New Jersey: "As I understand it, procedure is to
lockdown a terminal when you have that kind of breach. And while they may
have found person subsequently that person could have passed on a weapon to
someone." 

TSA spokesperson tells us "management didn't believe an evacuation was
warranted," adding that "the woman was found 20 minutes later and was
re-screened without incident." TSA is insisting this was "not a security
breach." 

Charles Slepian, Aviation Security Expert: "They searched for a woman so
they had a security concern. If someone passes through your security system
and you still have a concern that's a breach." 

Newark has had a string of security problems including screeners missing one
in four fake bombs or weapons during testing and, recently, one of those
phony bombs ended up on a plane. Now a congressman says it's time for
change. 

Rep. Robert Menendez - (D), New Jersey: "We're going to need some firm
guidelines or will need some disciplinary action." 

TSA says there is some confusion over whether an alarm sounded when the
passenger went through the check point. But one screener told us it most
definitely did, that's why they shut down the checkpoint and launched an
all-out search for the woman.


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