Airport Security Failed To Detect Weapon In Briefcase
Posted: 8:35 a.m. EDT October 24, 2001
Updated: 3:35 p.m. EDT October 24, 2001

KENNER, La. -- A man with a loaded weapon in his carry-on bag passed through security and boarded a Southwest Airlines flight at Louis Armstrong International Airport Tuesday.

The man was headed to San Diego, and was able to get past the magnetometers at a security checkpoint with a loaded gun in his briefcase.

The man said that he didn't realize that he had the gun on him until midway through the flight, at which point he notified a flight attendant about the situation.


"It is my understanding that the Southwest employee worked with the pilot and that the gun was secured before landing in Phoenix," Phoenix International Airport spokesperson Suzanne Luber said.

The man was interviewed by Phoenix police and the FBI. So far, he has not been charged with any crime. But it raises a bigger question: how secure are airport security checkpoints?


"Airports unfortunately have a very limited responsibility as far as the security checkpoint (is concerned)," Luber said. "It is really the airline's responsibility. But both airlines and airport want to be very serious about security measures and it seems unfortunate that anything got through."


Although no criminal charges have been filed, the man still could face civil penalties and fines by the FAA for bringing a weapon on board a plane, whether he knew about it or not.


Ever since flights resumed after the Sept. 11 attacks many airlines, including Southwest, began conducting random searches of baggage.


The baggage is searched by the airline and the carry-ons are searched by airport security.


The security is usually a private company hired by the airline. In New Orleans, security is provided by a company called International Total Services.
----------------
[url]http://www.koin.com/sh/news/stories/nat-news-102786320011024-131027.html[/url]
----------------

Jeez, who needs boxcutters with "tightened" security like that.

I hate when that happens. [:D]
Ice

funny...he dosnt want trouble so he tells an attendant he could of kept his mouth shut...now they are talking about fining him....a$$backwards.

I was thinking the same thing WOIM.

I think I would've just kept my mouth shut at that point.