"Task force looks into security at Sky Harbor"

Wednesday, July 6, 2005

Task force looks into Sky Harbor 
Airport security scrutinized after man crashes into fence
By Ginger D. Richardson and Jack Gillum
The Arizona Republic


A special security task force is conducting a comprehensive review of the
perimeter at Sky Harbor International Airport after a man driving a stolen
truck was able to crash through a wrought-iron fence last week and drive
onto the taxiway.

Six days after the security breach, airport officials remain adamant that
security at the airport, one of the nation's busiest, was - and is - more
than adequate.

Still, they have already shored up the damaged fence area with 18-inch high
concrete barriers, and are considering installing similar deterrents in
other potentially vulnerable locations, including the employee parking lots.


"I would challenge anyone to name another airport that would, within 24
hours, be able to make changes as a result of a problem," Phoenix Mayor Phil
Gordon said. "This city is committed to public safety."

The task force is expected to recommend changes in addition to the
enhancements already in place. The evaluation will be completed within the
next two weeks, at which time a full report will be submitted to Aviation
Director David Krietor and the Phoenix City Council. 

Task force members include airline employees, airport personnel and
representatives from such agencies as the Federal Bureau of Investigation
and the Transportation Security Administration. 

Last week's incident began when a man stole a car in north Phoenix and then
led officers on a chase through city streets and to the airport. Once there,
the man drove the late-model Nissan pickup through a perimeter fence and
sped past several passenger-filled planes, delaying at least 50 departing
flights in the process. Police fired several rounds at the truck, which
crashed through another fence west of Terminal 2 before stopping.

Police identified the suspect as Damian L. Holmes, 28, of Phoenix. They
believe he was intoxicated at the time of the incident, according to court
records. He has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon,
unlawful flight from law enforcement and probation violation. 

He is being held on $108,000 bond. It is still unknown what federal charges
he may face if any, Phoenix police Sgt. Randy Force said.

Last week's incident was the second time in about 18 months that a car has
breached the perimeter at Sky Harbor. In November 2003, two men were
arrested after stealing a car, crashing through a chain-link fence and
leading officers onto an airfield near Terminal 3.

At the time, airport authorities said that security worked well but that
they were evaluating whether a chain-link fence, the most required by
federal Transportation Security Administration standards, was adequate.

Tuesday, the bent 8-foot wrought-iron fence that Holmes originally broke
through was easily visible, still marked by yellow police tape. But now, new
concrete barriers block any entrance to the airport's main taxiways.

They are part of about $1 million in improvements to the airport's perimeter
in the last year or so, said Assistant Aviation Director Carl Newman. 

Phoenix officials say they have spent an extraordinary amount of money on
security enhancements since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. 

About $100 million has been earmarked over 10 years for such improvements,
which have so far included bomb-proofing key areas of the airport,
installing explosive-proof garbage cans, instituting a new fingerprinting
system, placing barricades in front of doors and beefing up the number of
bomb dog teams on the premises.

Nico Melendez, a field communications director for the Transportation
Security Administration, said Tuesday that Sky Harbor had previously
submitted an airport security plan and that it was deemed acceptable. The
agency will not be requiring officials to make any improvements to the
fence-line at Sky Harbor in light of last week's incident, he said.


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