News: Recent Security Blunders

I was not planning on Blogging about security but with all of these stores in the news I could not resist getting the word out.

W.Va. Mayor Uses Magazine for ID at Airport Security
The mayor of Charleston, W. Va., was able to clear the checkpoint at John Wayne Airport in Orange County by pointing to his picture in a West Virginia magazine, after he was initially stopped for using an expired (drivers license) ID. According to The Charleston Daily Mail Mayor Danny White “had to flip open a copy of a locally produced magazine, with his picture inside identifying him as the mayor of Charleston, before officials would finally let Jones fly back home.”

After about 30 minutes of trying to explain who he was Jones showed security a copy of the Charleston Magazine a promotional tool used to promote West Virginia and its capital city. In it was an article written by Jones welcoming visitors to his city. It also included a picture of the mayor. “The picture is what did it,” Jones says. “They knew then that I was the mayor of Charleston, West Virginia.”

Ok this is sorta strange, I was at Oshkosh a few years ago and they were printing photos of people on the cover of Flying Magazine for "Pilot of The Year" do you think I could have gotten into Oshkosh free since I was pilot of the year?

TSA Tester Slips Fake Bomb Past Security
In Tampa Florida a TSA security tester slips past security with a fake bomb. This exercise shows how someone can get past security. CNN goes along with him to video the whole thing (watch the video to see him slip past) as he wraps the fake bomb fits comfortably into the small of his back.

Loaded Gun Slips Through Airport Security
Last but not least, a passenger went through an airport security checkpoint at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, before remembering that he had a loaded gun. Scott Hinkle 53 of West Virginia (once again) is now facing charges after going back to report his error, authorities said. After he recalled having the gun, he returned to the security checkpoint and disclosed the weapon. He was then charged with possessing or transporting a firearm into an air carrier terminal where prohibited, a misdemeanor, and released. He is now scheduled to appear April 2 in Arlington County, Virginia, General District Court.

On a related (and crazy) note a spokesman says “that 14 guns were discovered at checkpoints around the country last week. On average, screeners find two guns a day.”

Source Non-Mobile: W.Va. Mayor Uses Magazine For ID
Source Non-Mobile: TSA Tester Slips Fake Bomb Past Security

Tags: Airlines, Airports, Security, Travel
Technorati Tags: Airlines, Airports, Security, Travel