Tue, Apr 28, 2015
Used Employee Card To Bypass Checkpoint At Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport
An FAA inspector has been accused of unlawfully entering Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport without clearing security ... a misdemeanor charge. A small-caliber handgun was later found in his backpack.
The Associated Press reports that Ernest Abbott allegedly used an employee access card to gain entry to the secure area of the airport without going through the TSA checkpoint while traveling from Atlanta to New York. When he went to board a plane back to Atlanta, airport screeners found a .22 caliber handgun in Abbott's backpack.
Abbott said that the gun belonged to his wife, and he did not realize it was in his luggage until it was found by the screeners. ABC News reports that Abbott did not have a security badge for LaGuardia, and had to go through normal security.
FAA Administrator Michael Huerta has suspended the program which allows safety inspectors to access secure areas of airports as part of their normal duties. "The FAA will stand down the program while it conducts improved training for all of its inspectors," the FAA said in a statement. "The agency also will require inspectors to sign a new agreement that details each inspector's responsibility under the program and clearly states that any infraction related to a weapon will result in an immediate and permanent suspension of privileges and possible further disciplinary action."
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport was also the point of origin for an alleged gun-smuggling ring that was recently discovered moving firearms to New York. The suspects in that case also allegedly used employee credentials to bypass normal security.
More News
Omnidirectional Approach Lighting System ODALS consists of seven omnidirectional flashing lights located in the approach area of a nonprecision runway. Five lights are located on t>[...]
"Polaris Dawn, the first of the program’s three human spaceflight missions, is targeted to launch to orbit no earlier than summer 2024. During the five-day mission, the crew >[...]
Also: 1800th E-Jet, Uncle Sam Sues For Landing Gear, Embraer Ag Plane, Textron Parts A friend of the family reported that Lt. Col. (Ret.) Richard Glenn Rutan flew west on Friday, M>[...]
Also: Virgin Galactic, B-29 Doc to Allentown, Erickson Fire-Fighters Bought, FAA Reauthorization After dealing with a big letdown after the unexpected decision by Skyreach to disco>[...]
“Our aircrews are trained and capable of rapidly shifting from operational missions to humanitarian roles. We planned to demonstrate how we, and our BORSTAR partners, respond>[...]