Mon, Aug 25, 2008
Says Agency Has "Consistently Found Problems" With Carrier At
ORD
The
US Transportation Security Administration, apparently embarrassed
last week for supporting an inspector who climbed aboard American
Eagle regional jets at Chicago O'Hare by using air temperature
probes as grab handles, has retaliated against the airline with
charges and fines.
The Transportation Security Administration told CNN Thursday it
will investigate "multiple security violations," and may fine the
airport as much as $175,000.
TSA says airlines are allowed to park planes with unsecured
doors overnight, provided they're not too close to jetways, but
American Eagle is leaving its planes both unlocked and too close.
The agency told CNN it has "consistently found problems" with
American Eagle at O'Hare, adding that this is an isolated problem
unique to this airline at this airport.
As ANN reported, on the morning of August 19 a
TSA inspector reported he was able to gain access to seven of nine
parked American Eagle planes... by grabbing the fragile air
temperature probes on the outside of the fuselages to pull himself
up to unlocked doors. The airline delayed 40 flights to check for
damage, after its own employees observed the inspector, and warned
maintenance officials.
The airline says neither TSA nor the inspector said anything
about the dangerous stunt ahead of scheduled takeoffs, putting
crews and passengers at risk.
The TSA now admits its inspector erred, and says he'll be
retrained. But the agency says he was, "...seeking to close a real
danger to the traveling public... The TSA stands behind the
inspector and that effort."
It's hard not to wonder if they'd still back the inspector if
this was all part of an NTSB report.
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