Airport Security Has Gaping Hole

CBS News Investigation Finds Thousands Of Airport Employees Are Not Screened

(CBS)  While passengers, pilots and flight attendants undergo careful screening, a CBS News hidden camera found that it is easy for employees at one of the busiest U.S. airports to get into a secure area: a flash of a badge, no X-rays, no physical screening — no questions asked.

"Could have a gun, could have a bomb. It's very scary," the airport employee told CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian.

An airport employee, who asked CBS News to disguise his identity and alter his voice, showed just how far the wrong person wearing the right badge could go.

"They could drop anything inside a plane or crowded terminal area whatever they decided to do, they could do it," he says.

Nearly 700,000 airport employees across the country — including cleaners, maintenance, catering and ramp workers — hold security IDs, known as "SIDA" badges. In most cases, these badges allow them complete access in and around airplanes.

Security analyst Charlie Slepian has deep concerns over the abundance of badges and the lack of oversight.

"Somebody can take a badge and duplicate it. They can lend it to somebody else," Slepian says. "They can give it away. It can be stolen. And once it's in the hands of somebody who's unauthorized, that person will have access to an airplane or baggage or cargo."

At Reagan Airport in Washington, CBS News cameras caught unscreened workers entering a secure area said to lead directly to baggage handling and the planes.

"It's troubling, very troubling," Slepian says.

Most troubling, say pilots and flight attendants, is how many "inside" SIDA badges belong to outside contractors.

"These people are the lowest-waged people on the property," says flight attendant Charlie Black. "If approached and offered $5,000 or $10,000 to carry a knapsack, would they do it?"

Some say the TSA has it backwards when it puts flight crews — not ground workers — under the microscope.

"The people that we know the most about, that are the most carefully vetted employees, are the ones we are physically searching versus the people we don't know," says Capt. Tracy Price, a pilot.

CBS News wanted to talk with the TSA about this story. But despite repeated requests, no one from the agency would speak on camera. Instead, it issued a statement.

The TSA says employees working in secure areas "...are subject to multiple security layers ... including ... random screening at any time and without notice" and "are required to undergo extensive background checks."

But how extensive can those checks really be when just last year, 65 illegal immigrants got into the TSA system and were working in some of the most secure areas of several major U.S. airports before finally being arrested?

[davey214]

A friend of mine travelling with his girlfriend discovered that she had accidentally packed a 4" blade pocket knife in her purse. they had already checked their luggage and so he came up with a plan. they got that knife thru security 14 times from Europe to the US. i wont say how they did it, but i believe what they said.

[churchof1000]

It is sad and scary that security is so lax. But it's due to the fact that people are still unwilling to bear the additional cost in time & money that it's going to take to make significant improvements in security. One could argue that nothing has been done since 9-11 to SIGNIFICANTLY improve security. Where is the public outcry? Apparently we just don't care that much, because people are still flying. By doing so, we are implicitly agreeing that money is more important than safety. THAT'S why I no longer fly.

[mt5937]

Security 101: Scrutinize the people on the INSIDE first.

[samibarry]

trust the people in charge thats my moto

[gunnerv1]

Thank you Aristithis. A breath of fresh air!

[gunnerv1]

And now you know why I don't fly anymore!

[gunnerv1]

Airport Security is always going to be cr*p until we do like "El Al" Airlines. But the American people will not put up with that type of security check, because (whine) it takes too long. You want to fly on El Al, get to the airport 5 hours early, and thats just to check in!

[aristithis]

I am an airport security professional. I am unable to discuss details of security measures and policies; however, I have worked with a large number of TSA and DHS officials and I rarely get the notion that their actions are arbitrary or capricious. Sure, some security measures fall woefully short and are poorly conceived but their authors and enforcers are individuals who have made it their life's work to act in the best interest of the flying public. Having an insider's view, I understand that transportation security, by air, land or sea, is a constant tug-o-war between competing interests, i.e. unfettered commerce and personal freedom versus safety and security. Transportation security rules and regulations reflect this struggle. We have to strike a balance where we can achieve the safest, most secure transportation environment while preserving our most precious freedoms. It's tough for the public to trust government to do the right thing and asking questions IS the American Way (I am a devout libertarian) but don't fall victim to sensational stories and skewed points of view. Put on your thinking cap. A little bit of knowledge is more dangerous than ignorance. To all you present and former aviation employees, remember that discussing sensitive security information (like security measures or procedures) with anyone who is not expressly authorized by the Secretary of Transportation to receive such information, is against the law (49 CFR parts 15 and 1520).

[grumpas]

Airport security is like the War on Terror! It is PR packaged to make Bush look like he is doing something about terrorism! But, he never has when one bothers to check the facts! It was unreal so many people bought that slop he used in his commercial's to get reelected in 2004! It's like Bluestardad says, "Chicken Hawks who got us into this war don%u2019t know who the enemy is. Nor can they define the enemy we are fighting now! Is the enemy the Saudi back Sunnis or the Iranian backed Shiites that have been our friends for 20 years, could it possibly be the hold outs from the old Saddam regime or maybe just anyone who disagrees with President Bush?" It's really sad the incompetence of this administration! It's even sadder that American's are allowing this boob to run our country!

[mdc76082]

"Somebody can take a badge and duplicate it. They can lend it to somebody else," Slepian says. "They can give it away. It can be stolen. And once it's in the hands of somebody who's unauthorized, that person will have access to an airplane or baggage or cargo"
They did fail to mention, it could also be sold if the price is right. 25 years ago in the Navy we used to go through the verbal reprimand, sometimes put on report, about loosing our military IDs and how they could fall into the hands of terrorists. That was 25 years ago, and we were talking about terrorists then. Now a days, folks just sell'em if the price is right, with no consequences at all.

[michaure]

For the record i didn't vote for Bush.

[freckster]

Airport security has changed for show. They (government and airlines) want the public to feel safe because of what the flyers are subjected to, not because real, effective (and yes, very expensive) measures have been put into place. It is deemed too expensive to redesign airports and properly screen and monitor all activity so instead we get this "show". If the public can see security then they will feel safe and all is well.

I traveled to Columbia in 1995. On all international and connecting international flights there were armed guards (military style with fatigues and guns), dogs and multiple layers of search. Non-passengers were not allowed in the terminal. My baggage was searched at the terminal counter, my carry-on searched again at the entry to the concourse where I was physically frisked, and then again when I was boarding the plane. At the gate I could see security on the ground around the plane - again, guns and dogs.

Granted, most of this was for drug interdiction but it can be done and is being done elsewhere.

[bluestardad]

The Saudi Arabian Government is providing financial, military and personnel aid to the Sunni insurgents also. When will the American Government hold equally accountable the other people feeding insurgents in the Iraq war? We never hear President Bush or the media demanding they Saudi back off its support to the Sunni insurgents as he does his rhetoric against the Iranians. 15 of the 19 hijackers that hit us on September 11, 2001 were from Saudi and so was Bin Laden! These people are friends of the Bush family! But they are still killing American Soldiers. The American people have spoken on November 7, 2006 and demand that our elected officials pull our troops out of Iraq and start negotiations with all countries in the region on an equal basis. This Rovian Sound Bite that disagreement with the Presidents policies in the Middle East provides aid and comfort to the enemy is preposterous and rejected by the American people. First off the President and his Rovian Neocons Chicken Hawks who got us into this war don%u2019t know who the enemy is. Nor can they define the enemy we are fighting now! Is the enemy the Saudi back Sunnis or the Iranian backed Shiites that have been our friends for 20 years, could it possibly be the hold outs from the old Saddam regime or maybe just anyone who disagrees with President Bush?

[bluestardad]

Be afraid ONly King George and his Chicken Hawks can save Us! Run little children Run!

[choney2]

Security is a tough job at what ever level. Having worked as a Public Safety Officer for The Detroit Board of Education for years. We had three thosand students and one hundred plus staff members. With ID checks and constant patrol. You still are going to miss something! I agree that their should be better seaches of the hourly staff. But we all have to expect that increased Security will mean higher ticket prices. To get the type of Security like I am. They have to have a degree in Crimnal Justice, and then must be trained thru the Police Academy. That cost money to have professional staff of workers that care about their job.

[seajeremy]

I worked for a major airline at several different airports for many years before leaving in 2006. Yes, I had a SIDA badge at every airport and yes I had direct access to aircraft without screening. The TSA statement in the CBS report indicated that airport employees are subjected to "several layers of security" including random searches, etc. which I have never seen happen. I know the background check was very thorough but that seemed to be the end of the testing. My own airline did random drug testing but I've never known the FAA or the airport authority to proctor a drug test. At one of the airports in which I worked for 4 years, the airport authority had to redisign and redistribute all of the SIDA badges not once but TWICE because so many of them were lost, stolen, or never returned. The really scary thing was when over 400 employees from a competitor were laid off due to outsourcing and a lot of them kept their SIDA badges and they were never deactivated! They were still able to access the secured area through bypass doors even months after they were laid off - incredible!

I know for a fact that any airline employee who has a SIDA badge can take a package and get it on an airplane without difficulty, without screening or inspection and without being challenged. I can say with confidence that no amount of money could have persuaded me to cause harm to my airline (or any other carrier for that matter) but is there another employee out there who has a price?

[montanabob2]

Once again you try to scare the country about flying. After I retired from teaching school I took a part time job for an airline in Billings Montana. I was put through the wringer before I was able to secure a SIDA badge. This includes finger printing, drug and alcohol test, background check and very rigid testing. The first three months I worked for the airline I was called in for a random drug test, tested on the ramp by various security people and was required to attend all security meetings. If I failed even one of these I would be fired. If I see someone out on the ramp or in a secured area and they did not have their badge showing I must ask them to see it if not I would be fired. Flying is by far safer than any other mode of transportation so please quit trying to scare the American Public. The reporter stated that the people who work at the airports are some of the lowest paid people in the country
and for a few thousand dollars they might be willing to carry a gun or bomb on an airliner. Could this happen at our airport? This would be doubtful however not once in my 31 years of teaching was I ever ask to take a drug test, have a background check or be finger printed. I finished my career at a middle school where we had around seven hundred student enrolled. At this school there was some of the lowest paid staff in the country did I ever worry about someone carrying a bomb or a gun to our school? Guess where I feel safer?
Bob Powell
Billings, Montana

[kokoone]

to cbs editors/producers;although this may be true at some airports,(and i have visited 23 stations in my 39 year carrer with u.a.l. and4 airports in the last 4 years as i get furloughed and follow my seniorty)this is not the case in ewr,controlled by the port of n.y.port of authority of n.y.&n.j.plz present the postifed side which would amke the terriost look twice.regards email [e-mail]

[hmj1231]

Katie:
I love CBS news, and being a devoted watcher, this story was very bias. As a veteran of airline employees since 1987, I've written you continuously about this problem, however, I'm also disturbed at the way CBS presneted the facts.
As a ramp agent, there are times when I'm delivering animals, cargo, interoffice mail, and special deliveries to Baggage Services offices, which is usually located outside of the "CEDA" area. I may have to return to the "CEDA" area, to continue unloading passenger luggage. It becomes a problem when I'm stopped, for unforeseen security checks, even though I've worked for hours without problems, questions, checks or concerns.
If CBS followed someone, working as a ramp agent, delivering animals and such, 4-6 times a day, and this has been constant with the same employee, why scare the public into believing people are out to harm them with terrorism? This is irresponsible, and though people were found to be suspect, nothing happened with those employees, other than the possibility of losing their jobs. Quit scaring the public about flying.