Airport Employees To Be Screened, Same As Pax

A loophole in airport security apparently allowed two baggage handlers to bypass airport screeners on several occasions, and board commercial flights carrying a bag containing guns and drugs. On Thursday, federal lawmakers introduced legislation that would close that gaping hole.

Representative Nita Lowey, D-NY, co-sponsored a bill with Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie G. Thompson that would mandate airports to subject all workers with access to secure and sterile areas the same screening process as passengers.

"It's unfathomable that more than five years after September 11th, a measure as fundamental and simple as this one still has not been implemented," said Lowey, who serves on the House Committee on Homeland Security. "Meticulously screening passengers but giving workers open access is like installing an expensive home security system but leaving your back door wide open."

Little is known about exactly how the Comair baggage handlers managed to carry a duffel bag with 14 guns and eight pounds of marijuana onto a Delta flight bound for Puerto Rico on Monday and law enforcement isn't talking. Court documents state they used their employee uniforms and airport identification cards to enter restricted areas and bypass screeners.

As ANN previously reported, Thomas Anthony Munoz, 22, of Kissimmee, FL was arrested in San Juan as he got off the plane at the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, carrying the bag containing the guns and drugs, said Carlos Baixauli, a Miami-based special agent with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Zabdiel J. Santiago Balaguer, 22, also of Kissimmee, boarded the airplane, but was removed by security screeners after police received a tip. He was released when no weapons or drugs were found on him, according to court records. Authorities arrested him Tuesday, according to Florida Today.

Congress passed the Aviation and Transportation Security Act in 2001. This required the Transportation Security Administration to implement worker screening. Now, more than five years later, the TSA has failed to enforce this basic policy or even set a deadline for doing so, Lowey said.

Two air marshals were aboard the Florida to San Juan flight, but it is unknown if either knew the guns were there, according to the Associated Press. Investigators believe this is part of a larger smuggling operation.

No security changes have been made as of yet.

FMI: www.house.gov