Airport Employee: "Phoenix Airport Has No Security, And Hasn't For Some Time"

[DeSwiss]

Serious Security Questions at Sky Harbor Airport
Serious Security Questions at Sky Harbor Airport

Lisa Fletcher
KTAR, Mon July 23, 2007: 9am

It's what you have to do when you fly - use X-ray machines, metal detectors, and deal with liquid restrictions in your carry-on luggage. You know the drill. Security checkpoints are just part of travel these days. They're supposed to keep us safe, so we use them - but not all of us and not all the time. We've discovered a 4.5 hour time frame each night when virtually anything can be brought into the secure side of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. There's no metal detector, no X-ray machine, and it's apparently not a problem.

*snip*

It's what we discovered in the middle of the night - TSA agents going away, and security guards taking over. It's 4.5 hours - every night - when an employee badge becomes an all-access pass. Night after night, our hidden cameras captured what security experts tell us is a disaster waiting to happen. The X-ray machines were off, the metal detectors were closed, and bags with unknown contents were carried to the secure side of the airport where the planes are.

*snip*

Larry Wansley is widely regarded as one of the nation's top airline security experts. .....Larry watched for hours and saw the same thing we did - guys with huge backpacks showing their ID and walking through without ever opening their bags. A flight attendant, with three suitcases in tow, flashed her badge and breezed by. A huge load of newspapers on a cart was also pulled right passed the guard and a floor cleaner was pushed by without any inspection. Even a guy with his bike just showed his ID and was able to ride through with his crate on the back, never checked.

*snip*

The airport employee we talked with said she is afraid. "No one's doing anything about it," she said. "Management knows. I know management knows. I know my superiors know. I know the security guards know. Everybody knows what's going on, but nobody's doing anything about it."

Read more: http://www.abc15.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=568d6b4d-67b7-4116-9098-4c35d8b5ce38#top

**UPDATE** - As a result of an ABC15 Investigation, Transportation Security Administration administrator Kip Hawley says they are now reviewing security procedures at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. The TSA has placed the Federal Security Director at Sky Harbor on administrative leave. http://www.abc15.com/content/news/investigators/story.aspx?content_id=ada0fdaa-5f1d-4ec2-b6d0-f953feaefc9d

*** - I have a question. Is there ANYONE in this administration who is competent? {sound of crickets}

[bemildred]

1. Did you think "airport security" was really about protecting us?

:rofl::rofl:

[DeSwiss]

4. Well, I didn't....

...but apparently the local ABC affiliate thought so. But then, it is ABC.

[bemildred]

8. Yeah. They gotta act like they take it serious anyway. nt

[Cerridwen]

2. But did they have shampoo?

:rofl:

[DeSwiss]

5. Do you mean like this?

[Cerridwen]

9. LOL That's it!

Yep, that's what I'm talkin' about.

:rofl:

[Mr Rabble]

3. These are private contractors, not government workers.

When they say "TSA employees" what they mean is "private contractors". The TSA had much of its function privatized, outsourced- whatever you want to call it- to private firms. They could care less about what happens, as they are it this FOR PROFIT.

If this were still a government job, it would be getting done correctly.

Likely slowly...but correctly. :)

[DeSwiss]

6. Well hey!

I'd like one of those no-show jobs myself. I'm for profit.

But only if they'd let me work for the Phoenix airport from my home in Tennessee...

[gratuitous]

7. You think all this "security" crap is to make you secure?

No, it's about pushing around the citizenry, a Potemkin sense of security, and window dressing for the rubes. "Gaw-lee! Lookit all the swell-lookin' guys in uny-form. We must be reeeel safe!"

And since it's not fooling the airport employees, not fooling the tuned-in folks, you can bet it's not fooling the people plotting to do something wicked. So, either this administration is completely incompetent, or they're pretty sure the "terrorists" aren't planning to hit an airport anytime soon.

[DeSwiss]

10. Hmmmm.... decisions, decisions....

...okay, I'll go with "administration is completely incompetent."

Did I win????