Boy, 12, beats UK airport security
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Boy, 12, beats UK airport security
Boy, 12, beats UK airport security
August 16, 2006 - 12:46PM
British police want to know how a 12-year-old boarded an aircraft at London's Gatwick airport during the security clampdown without a passport or a boarding pass.
The boy got on an airliner bound for Lisbon, Portugal, on Monday, when British airports were still operating at their highest level of security following the thwarting of an alleged plot to blow up US-bound airliners in mid-flight.
He had run away from a care home in Merseyside, western England, and travelled to London by train.
The boy somehow managed to get through airport security, board the plane and take a seat before a member of the Monarch Airlines crew noticed he had no boarding pass. He also did not have a passport or any other travel documents.
Sussex Police said they were concerned by the security breach, The Times reported, and an investigation was under way.
"The boy had passed through a full security screening process and we are confident there was no threat to passengers, staff or the aircraft at any time," a spokesman for the British Airports Authority (BAA) at Gatwick airport said.
Security restrictions were heightened on Thursday when Britain raised its terror alert level to "critical" over the alleged plot to blow up US-bound planes.
Twenty-four people were arrested in pre-dawn raids on Thursday. One has since been released, and another person was arrested yesterday.
Britain on Monday lowered its terror threat level to "severe" - the fourth highest level, but security restrictions at many airports were not eased until Tuesday.
AFP
August 16, 2006 - 12:46PM
British police want to know how a 12-year-old boarded an aircraft at London's Gatwick airport during the security clampdown without a passport or a boarding pass.
The boy got on an airliner bound for Lisbon, Portugal, on Monday, when British airports were still operating at their highest level of security following the thwarting of an alleged plot to blow up US-bound airliners in mid-flight.
He had run away from a care home in Merseyside, western England, and travelled to London by train.
The boy somehow managed to get through airport security, board the plane and take a seat before a member of the Monarch Airlines crew noticed he had no boarding pass. He also did not have a passport or any other travel documents.
Sussex Police said they were concerned by the security breach, The Times reported, and an investigation was under way.
"The boy had passed through a full security screening process and we are confident there was no threat to passengers, staff or the aircraft at any time," a spokesman for the British Airports Authority (BAA) at Gatwick airport said.
Security restrictions were heightened on Thursday when Britain raised its terror alert level to "critical" over the alleged plot to blow up US-bound planes.
Twenty-four people were arrested in pre-dawn raids on Thursday. One has since been released, and another person was arrested yesterday.
Britain on Monday lowered its terror threat level to "severe" - the fourth highest level, but security restrictions at many airports were not eased until Tuesday.
AFP
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"The boy had passed through a full security screening process and we are confident there was no threat to passengers, staff or the aircraft at any time," a spokesman for the British Airports Authority (BAA) at Gatwick airport said.
The BAA are confident there was no threat to other pax because it subsequently transpired he didn't have anything of threat on him. What if he had?
I don't care for the hypothetical "what ifs". But I do care about BAA saying this boy had gone through the "full screening process". That most definitely includes showing a boarding pass at two separate points, security and gate. And if that wasn't done, how can we have any confidence that the rest of the process was followed ?
It is conceivable he could have stolen a boarding pass before security, but the lack of any comment about such makes it unlikely.
It is conceivable he could have stolen a boarding pass before security, but the lack of any comment about such makes it unlikely.
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The whole story makes a mockery of security, but in all fairness to the BAA they were up to thier necks in it carrying out the extra checks etc.
Not so for the boarding staff who by all accounts have had an easier time since Thursday (ie) no hand baggage issues to deal with as all the passengers had been alledegely screened prior to arriving at the gate.
This begs the question are they being investigated too ?
I am not sure who handles Monarch at LGW but surely whoever the handling are should be looked into as well !
Not so for the boarding staff who by all accounts have had an easier time since Thursday (ie) no hand baggage issues to deal with as all the passengers had been alledegely screened prior to arriving at the gate.
This begs the question are they being investigated too ?
I am not sure who handles Monarch at LGW but surely whoever the handling are should be looked into as well !
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how the hell can you do that?
I saw the story on the news this morning so im still really confused with this situation. I only just got back fromholiday yesterday (Gatwick) and everything was really tight security wise so im really surprised with this. (tempting to do so myself i hate the UK)
I saw the story on the news this morning so im still really confused with this situation. I only just got back fromholiday yesterday (Gatwick) and everything was really tight security wise so im really surprised with this. (tempting to do so myself i hate the UK)
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Originally Posted by Tim Bucks= UT Pilot
how the hell can you do that?
I saw the story on the news this morning so im still really confused with this situation. I only just got back fromholiday yesterday (Gatwick) and everything was really tight security wise so im really surprised with this. (tempting to do so myself i hate the UK)
I saw the story on the news this morning so im still really confused with this situation. I only just got back fromholiday yesterday (Gatwick) and everything was really tight security wise so im really surprised with this. (tempting to do so myself i hate the UK)
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He could easily have gone through, as he would have appeared to have been with adults. Many adults keep hold of the child's passport and boarding card as they fear the child will drop them, or have them picked from their pocket. Any staff would have presumed that the child was with an adult and then been predisposed to not checking the child's [non existant] papers.
(To save starting another thread) Then there is the case of a man at Gatwick who found his way onto an a/c that was being cleaned as he was looking for something that he had left onboard. It seems that this was at a gate but he could gain access.
Here is the BBC story: Lost wallet sparks Gatwick scare
An air passenger sparked a security scare at Gatwick airport after boarding a plane to look for a lost wallet, as the aircraft was being cleaned.
Travel company Thomas Cook is calling on airport operator BAA to investigate how the man managed to get on one of its jets at 0110 BST on Tuesday.
(To save starting another thread) Then there is the case of a man at Gatwick who found his way onto an a/c that was being cleaned as he was looking for something that he had left onboard. It seems that this was at a gate but he could gain access.
Here is the BBC story: Lost wallet sparks Gatwick scare
An air passenger sparked a security scare at Gatwick airport after boarding a plane to look for a lost wallet, as the aircraft was being cleaned.
Travel company Thomas Cook is calling on airport operator BAA to investigate how the man managed to get on one of its jets at 0110 BST on Tuesday.
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Well, he wasn't the only one!
Read more from this article.
The child, who has not been identified, passed through security and boarded the Ryanair flight from Liverpool John Lennon Airport to Kerry without a boarding pass.
The blunder happened last Thursday as security was increased during the national terror alert.
The boy, who was thought to be travelling with his mother, was removed from the plane after cabin crew discovered he did not have a boarding card.
The blunder happened last Thursday as security was increased during the national terror alert.
The boy, who was thought to be travelling with his mother, was removed from the plane after cabin crew discovered he did not have a boarding card.
