most Fake Bombs missed at LAX, ORD, SFO
Oct 18, 2007, 6:12 am
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most Fake Bombs missed at LAX, ORD, SFO
L.A., Chicago screeners missed most fake bombs
Thomas Frank
USA TODAY
Oct. 18, 2007 12:00 AM
WASHINGTON - Security screeners at two of the nation's busiest airports failed to find fake bombs hidden on undercover agents posing as passengers in more than 60 percent of tests last year, according to a classified report obtained by USA Today.
Screeners at Los Angeles International Airport missed about 75 percent of simulated explosives and bomb parts that Transportation Security Administration testers hid under their clothes or in carry-on bags at checkpoints, the TSA report shows.
At Chicago O'Hare International Airport, screeners missed about 60 percent of hidden bomb materials that were packed in everyday carry-ons, including toiletry kits, briefcases and CD players.
San Francisco International Airport screeners, who work for a private firm instead of the TSA, missed about 20 percent of the bombs, the report shows.
The TSA ran about 70 tests at Los Angeles, 75 at Chicago and 145 at San Francisco.
The report looks only at those three airports, using them as case studies to understand how well the rest of the U.S. screening system is working to stop terrorists from carrying bombs through checkpoints.
The failure rates at Los Angeles and Chicago stunned security experts.
"That's a huge cause for concern," said Clark Kent Ervin, the Homeland Security Department's former inspector general.
In the past year, the TSA has adopted a more aggressive approach in its attempt to keep screeners attentive, the agency runs covert tests every day at every U.S. airport, TSA spokeswoman Ellen Howe said.
Screeners who miss detonators, timers, batteries and blocks that resemble plastic explosives get remedial training.
Thomas Frank
USA TODAY
Oct. 18, 2007 12:00 AM
WASHINGTON - Security screeners at two of the nation's busiest airports failed to find fake bombs hidden on undercover agents posing as passengers in more than 60 percent of tests last year, according to a classified report obtained by USA Today.
Screeners at Los Angeles International Airport missed about 75 percent of simulated explosives and bomb parts that Transportation Security Administration testers hid under their clothes or in carry-on bags at checkpoints, the TSA report shows.
At Chicago O'Hare International Airport, screeners missed about 60 percent of hidden bomb materials that were packed in everyday carry-ons, including toiletry kits, briefcases and CD players.
San Francisco International Airport screeners, who work for a private firm instead of the TSA, missed about 20 percent of the bombs, the report shows.
The TSA ran about 70 tests at Los Angeles, 75 at Chicago and 145 at San Francisco.
The report looks only at those three airports, using them as case studies to understand how well the rest of the U.S. screening system is working to stop terrorists from carrying bombs through checkpoints.
The failure rates at Los Angeles and Chicago stunned security experts.
"That's a huge cause for concern," said Clark Kent Ervin, the Homeland Security Department's former inspector general.
In the past year, the TSA has adopted a more aggressive approach in its attempt to keep screeners attentive, the agency runs covert tests every day at every U.S. airport, TSA spokeswoman Ellen Howe said.
Screeners who miss detonators, timers, batteries and blocks that resemble plastic explosives get remedial training.
Oct 18, 2007, 7:18 am
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It sounds as if EWR is still on top with a 93% failure rate. I'm so proud
Oct 18, 2007, 7:58 am
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These tests are not designed to be easy. However, even so, it all boils down to basic blocking and tackling. Sticking to the SOP will probably improve a lot of the performance. It's as I said in another post: "screen deliberately." It's how I teach it and, whenever I work the floor, how I enforce it.
I see this report as a good thing if it results in a crackdown. We'll have to see what happens next.
I see this report as a good thing if it results in a crackdown. We'll have to see what happens next.
Oct 18, 2007, 8:06 am
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Yet another sign that the TSA needs to focus on the basics of guns and bomb detection rather than wasting resources on a lame SPOT-type set-up.
Oct 18, 2007, 8:08 am
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If the TSA employees weren't so busy sniffing shoes, checking liquids, playing inane SPOT games, conducting gate harassment, looking at boarding passes, and now looking at IDs, maybe they'd actually catch some credible threats...
Oct 18, 2007, 8:11 am
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Oct 18, 2007, 8:19 am
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That article is a Blatant Lie!!
Ive been to all those Airports that were mentioned and I can Attest to the fact that the TSA agents are performing 100% and spoting and removing all the bottles of Water that they find along with all kinds of bottles that are larger than 3.4 oz
Isnt that more important than finding any bomb be it real or fake
Ive been to all those Airports that were mentioned and I can Attest to the fact that the TSA agents are performing 100% and spoting and removing all the bottles of Water that they find along with all kinds of bottles that are larger than 3.4 oz
Isnt that more important than finding any bomb be it real or fake
Oct 18, 2007, 8:38 am
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I'm the "DA" (designated <expletive deleted by moderator>) who configures test bags at my airport. And while we have a good program, my goal is to raise the bar to force these Red Team exercises to do the same.
As for SPOT, again, we're in agreement. I can't shake the image of the 2000 elections aftermath of that guy with the bulging eyeball closely inspecting ballots for hanging chads.
Last edited by VPescado; Mar 28, 2008 at 10:54 am Reason: expletive deleted
Oct 18, 2007, 8:54 am
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These tests are not designed to be easy. However, even so, it all boils down to basic blocking and tackling. Sticking to the SOP will probably improve a lot of the performance. It's as I said in another post: "screen deliberately." It's how I teach it and, whenever I work the floor, how I enforce it.
I see this report as a good thing if it results in a crackdown. We'll have to see what happens next.
I see this report as a good thing if it results in a crackdown. We'll have to see what happens next.
The tests are not designed to be easy? Why should they? I doubt potential assailants are going to walk though the checkpoint with a bomb shaped like a black ball and fuse with the word ACME stenciled on its side. I have a pretty good idea the real terrorists will make the test even harder.
Maybe we'd be better off hiring some of these terrorists as consultants to help improve our airport security instead of waterboarding them
Oct 18, 2007, 8:57 am
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Way to go. I was trying to think of something to post but I can't top this. As usual you hit it on the head.
Oct 18, 2007, 9:04 am
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San Francisco International Airport screeners, who work for a private firm instead of the TSA, missed about 20 percent of the bombs, the report shows.
Oct 18, 2007, 9:10 am
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In addition, the SFO screeners have a reputation for being some of the nastiest in the country, and apparently SFO airport management is unwilling or uninterested in controlling their behavior, job performance or accountability.