Security Screening Debate
Forrest Gump would often say, “Stupid is as stupid does.” Well, thanks to the stupid actions of a couple of former Comair employees, all airport employees, including mechanics, that work in secure areas of airports are in the sights of the government for security screening.
Tulsa World reported on April 11 in its article “Watching Workers: More Checkpoints Possible: Airport screening debated” that Congress, the TSA and airline representatives are debating on whether or not security screening should be expanded to include all employees who work within secure areas of airports.
What started the debate? A couple of STUPID airline employees. In March of this year, a baggage handler in Orlando used his employee uniform and airport identification badge to bypass security and deposit a duffel bag in a restricted area. The next morning, a Comair employee boarded an airplane bound for Puerto Rico with the bag. Thanks to the assistance of an anonymous tip, police in Puerto Rico arrested him as he got off the plane.
So what was in the duffel bag? Believe it or not, 13 handguns, an assault rifle and eight pounds of marijuana!
Both employees have been fired, and are being charged in Puerto Rico with smuggling.
And Thanks to the actions of these stupid employees, all airline employees could be drastically affected if the government passes stricter security screening rules.
Common sense would say that there is no way mechanics can be held to the same security standards as the general public. What will airplanes get fixed with, fingernail clippers?
But then again, bureaucrats in Washington are seldom accused of having too much common sense.
You can click here to read the entire article.
What are your thoughts?
Joe Escobar
Here’s a thought! Let’s tell people that they have to check their baggage. No more just barely legal size suitcases, backpacks, hanging garment bags, etc being allowed in the cabin. Only allow purses, brief cases and diaper bags. The constraint/bottleneck at airport security is at the luggage screening stations. Add more people screening wlk thru scanners in the security area. The people flow will go much better.
As for the bag of donuts that skipped security to place a bag near the gate, well, they got caught and that’s good. No baggage allowed in the cabin would have stopped that. Allowing employees to bypass security could be eliminated if the lines at security were not so long.
Emagine how much faster the plane could be loaded if people we not standing in the eisle trying to stuff an oversized bag in the overhead bin. I could go on, but I give it a rest for now
Please excuse the spelling errors…I had to rush
ljhdfjkhf
First of all I think checking everyone is a waste of time. There is a reason why we go though a federal background check. IT still shocks me when I can’t bring a wrench thru security when I’m traveling from home to work with a carry on bag, but the general public can bring knitting needles/sisors…etc. IF it does happen where everyone gets searched, I will spend most of my work time waiting. Now tell that to your Grandma who’s flight was delayed because I was held up by TSA looking at my screwdrivers. I would like to see a list of things that TSA will allow. Will there be different levels of things that can be allowed? Can a ramper/cleaner bring in the same stuff as an A/P?