Poor airport security: KL airport and Malaysian Airlines
Mar 7, 2010 | 8:04 pm
#1
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Poor airport security: KL airport and Malaysian Airlines
Transiting through KL airport on the way to Langkawi and the agent behind the x-ray machine appeared to be sleeping. We ran our bags through and just kept going. That was a little worrying.
Then on the return on 6 Mar Malaysian Airlines flight 782 from KL to Bangkok it got a lot worse. There was a flight to Hanoi leaving from the next gate and they asked all of the Bkk passenger to wait to go through screening. There were two screening stations side by side. The security agents were not paying attention, and a man walked though the unattended screening point into the waiting area with no security screening. I got the attention of the security agent and told her a man had walked though, and she just shrugged her shoulders. After I got to the gate I told a Malaysian Airlines staff member who walked by that a man in the room was not screened. He also just shrugged his shoulders. I then told the Malaysian airlines agent working the flight, and he took it seriously, and called security. They came and talked to me in front of all the other passengers, and denied anyone got through without screening. They were polite, but obviously did not want to rescreen the small group of passengers in the room. I was firm that I saw the man walk through, and eventually another passenger near by spoke up and said he saw him go through as well. Then they insisted that I walk over and point out the person, which was really awkward. They took him back and x-rayed his luggage and he boarded the flight. He seemed to take it in stride, and the rest of the flight was uneventful. I would think that the proper thing to do would have been to rescreen all the passengers. I was amazed that both the security agent and Malaysian Airline staff were so unconcerned.
Then on the return on 6 Mar Malaysian Airlines flight 782 from KL to Bangkok it got a lot worse. There was a flight to Hanoi leaving from the next gate and they asked all of the Bkk passenger to wait to go through screening. There were two screening stations side by side. The security agents were not paying attention, and a man walked though the unattended screening point into the waiting area with no security screening. I got the attention of the security agent and told her a man had walked though, and she just shrugged her shoulders. After I got to the gate I told a Malaysian Airlines staff member who walked by that a man in the room was not screened. He also just shrugged his shoulders. I then told the Malaysian airlines agent working the flight, and he took it seriously, and called security. They came and talked to me in front of all the other passengers, and denied anyone got through without screening. They were polite, but obviously did not want to rescreen the small group of passengers in the room. I was firm that I saw the man walk through, and eventually another passenger near by spoke up and said he saw him go through as well. Then they insisted that I walk over and point out the person, which was really awkward. They took him back and x-rayed his luggage and he boarded the flight. He seemed to take it in stride, and the rest of the flight was uneventful. I would think that the proper thing to do would have been to rescreen all the passengers. I was amazed that both the security agent and Malaysian Airline staff were so unconcerned.
Last edited by Zimti; Mar 7, 2010 at 8:27 pm
Mar 7, 2010 | 8:53 pm
#2
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If thats your concern you probably better take a boat. 
Airport security is nothing but a big gong show to calm peoples fear of hijackers but if someone really wants to bring something onboard a plane they can do it at your own home airport just as well like at KLIA.
Do you seriously think you are safer by going through a metal detector ?
Airport security is nothing but a big gong show to calm peoples fear of hijackers but if someone really wants to bring something onboard a plane they can do it at your own home airport just as well like at KLIA.
Do you seriously think you are safer by going through a metal detector ?
Mar 7, 2010 | 9:21 pm
#4
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I commend you for pursuing it with the MAS staff member.
Certainly would have been awkward having to point the guy out in front of everybody. But hey, better to be safe than sorry.
Certainly would have been awkward having to point the guy out in front of everybody. But hey, better to be safe than sorry.
Mar 7, 2010 | 9:34 pm
#5
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I disagree vehemently with "better safe than sorry". Why fly at all? Staying home is safer, right?
I wish we could put all the people who would do "anything for 'security'" on their own flight and leave the rest of us who aren't going to lose our minds over incidents like this on other flights.
I'd gladly continue to fly to/from KUL and would fly MH if they were in OW, even if events like this happened daily.
I wish we could put all the people who would do "anything for 'security'" on their own flight and leave the rest of us who aren't going to lose our minds over incidents like this on other flights.
I'd gladly continue to fly to/from KUL and would fly MH if they were in OW, even if events like this happened daily.
Mar 7, 2010 | 9:53 pm
#6
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I agree that "anything for safety" is going too far. But professional, consistent, basic security screening is a good thing.
BTW - KLIA is a very nice airport, and I always find Malaysian Airlines to have great in flight service.
BTW - KLIA is a very nice airport, and I always find Malaysian Airlines to have great in flight service.
Mar 7, 2010 | 11:23 pm
#7
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Also, while you didn't see it since you were in transit, at KLIA there's another security screening point between check-in and immigration, which also involves walking through a metal detector. So odds are the passenger in question had already been screened.
Not that it makes any difference, mind you, since ceramic blades are plenty sharp and undetectable
Not that it makes any difference, mind you, since ceramic blades are plenty sharp and undetectable
Mar 8, 2010 | 12:12 am
#9
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Transiting through KL airport on the way to Langkawi and the agent behind the x-ray machine appeared to be sleeping. We ran our bags through and just kept going. That was a little worrying.
Then on the return on 6 Mar Malaysian Airlines flight 782 from KL to Bangkok it got a lot worse. There was a flight to Hanoi leaving from the next gate and they asked all of the Bkk passenger to wait to go through screening. There were two screening stations side by side. The security agents were not paying attention, and a man walked though the unattended screening point into the waiting area with no security screening. I got the attention of the security agent and told her a man had walked though, and she just shrugged her shoulders. After I got to the gate I told a Malaysian Airlines staff member who walked by that a man in the room was not screened. He also just shrugged his shoulders. I then told the Malaysian airlines agent working the flight, and he took it seriously, and called security. They came and talked to me in front of all the other passengers, and denied anyone got through without screening. They were polite, but obviously did not want to rescreen the small group of passengers in the room. I was firm that I saw the man walk through, and eventually another passenger near by spoke up and said he saw him go through as well. Then they insisted that I walk over and point out the person, which was really awkward. They took him back and x-rayed his luggage and he boarded the flight. He seemed to take it in stride, and the rest of the flight was uneventful. I would think that the proper thing to do would have been to rescreen all the passengers. I was amazed that both the security agent and Malaysian Airline staff were so unconcerned.
Then on the return on 6 Mar Malaysian Airlines flight 782 from KL to Bangkok it got a lot worse. There was a flight to Hanoi leaving from the next gate and they asked all of the Bkk passenger to wait to go through screening. There were two screening stations side by side. The security agents were not paying attention, and a man walked though the unattended screening point into the waiting area with no security screening. I got the attention of the security agent and told her a man had walked though, and she just shrugged her shoulders. After I got to the gate I told a Malaysian Airlines staff member who walked by that a man in the room was not screened. He also just shrugged his shoulders. I then told the Malaysian airlines agent working the flight, and he took it seriously, and called security. They came and talked to me in front of all the other passengers, and denied anyone got through without screening. They were polite, but obviously did not want to rescreen the small group of passengers in the room. I was firm that I saw the man walk through, and eventually another passenger near by spoke up and said he saw him go through as well. Then they insisted that I walk over and point out the person, which was really awkward. They took him back and x-rayed his luggage and he boarded the flight. He seemed to take it in stride, and the rest of the flight was uneventful. I would think that the proper thing to do would have been to rescreen all the passengers. I was amazed that both the security agent and Malaysian Airline staff were so unconcerned.
I was in KUL passing by security too and i put my bags through the screener and the officer was blatantly chatting with another officer without looking at the screen. I looked at them and shook my head from left to right and back to left again.
On the same day- i was passing through the immigration and 4 officers gathered there and guess what they were doing? Facebooking. I waited in front of the desk for like 45 seconds before they noticed me. Yah i was alone at the time.
Mar 8, 2010 | 5:04 am
#10
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Neil
Mar 8, 2010 | 6:21 am
#11
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I totally agree with most of the others as I personally witnessed about a dozen similar incidents over the years, even at airports such as CDG or VIE. Someone even told me that he recently flew with a hunting knife, he had forgotten to remove from his backpack, from Europe to Cambodia via BKK without anyone noticing it, until they discovered it at BKK security on the return trip. As you can imagine he was quite surprised!
so much about efficient airport security! its an illusion!
so much about efficient airport security! its an illusion!
Mar 8, 2010 | 6:27 am
#12
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Transiting through KL airport on the way to Langkawi and the agent behind the x-ray machine appeared to be sleeping. We ran our bags through and just kept going. That was a little worrying.
Then on the return on 6 Mar Malaysian Airlines flight 782 from KL to Bangkok it got a lot worse. There was a flight to Hanoi leaving from the next gate and they asked all of the Bkk passenger to wait to go through screening. There were two screening stations side by side. The security agents were not paying attention, and a man walked though the unattended screening point into the waiting area with no security screening. I got the attention of the security agent and told her a man had walked though, and she just shrugged her shoulders. After I got to the gate I told a Malaysian Airlines staff member who walked by that a man in the room was not screened. He also just shrugged his shoulders. I then told the Malaysian airlines agent working the flight, and he took it seriously, and called security. They came and talked to me in front of all the other passengers, and denied anyone got through without screening. They were polite, but obviously did not want to rescreen the small group of passengers in the room. I was firm that I saw the man walk through, and eventually another passenger near by spoke up and said he saw him go through as well. Then they insisted that I walk over and point out the person, which was really awkward. They took him back and x-rayed his luggage and he boarded the flight. He seemed to take it in stride, and the rest of the flight was uneventful. I would think that the proper thing to do would have been to rescreen all the passengers. I was amazed that both the security agent and Malaysian Airline staff were so unconcerned.
Then on the return on 6 Mar Malaysian Airlines flight 782 from KL to Bangkok it got a lot worse. There was a flight to Hanoi leaving from the next gate and they asked all of the Bkk passenger to wait to go through screening. There were two screening stations side by side. The security agents were not paying attention, and a man walked though the unattended screening point into the waiting area with no security screening. I got the attention of the security agent and told her a man had walked though, and she just shrugged her shoulders. After I got to the gate I told a Malaysian Airlines staff member who walked by that a man in the room was not screened. He also just shrugged his shoulders. I then told the Malaysian airlines agent working the flight, and he took it seriously, and called security. They came and talked to me in front of all the other passengers, and denied anyone got through without screening. They were polite, but obviously did not want to rescreen the small group of passengers in the room. I was firm that I saw the man walk through, and eventually another passenger near by spoke up and said he saw him go through as well. Then they insisted that I walk over and point out the person, which was really awkward. They took him back and x-rayed his luggage and he boarded the flight. He seemed to take it in stride, and the rest of the flight was uneventful. I would think that the proper thing to do would have been to rescreen all the passengers. I was amazed that both the security agent and Malaysian Airline staff were so unconcerned.
Mar 8, 2010 | 8:09 am
#13
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Please follow this in the transportation safety and security forum.
l'etoile
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l'etoile
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Mar 8, 2010 | 1:32 pm
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If thats your concern you probably better take a boat.
Airport security is nothing but a big gong show to calm peoples fear of hijackers but if someone really wants to bring something onboard a plane they can do it at your own home airport just as well like at KLIA.
Do you seriously think you are safer by going through a metal detector ?
Airport security is nothing but a big gong show to calm peoples fear of hijackers but if someone really wants to bring something onboard a plane they can do it at your own home airport just as well like at KLIA.
Do you seriously think you are safer by going through a metal detector ?