Loaded gun passes security (TWICE)

[sirwa69]

A guy gets on a plane in Tampa and flies to Atlanta, there he gets another flight to Memphis. At Memphis he turns around and tries to get back on a flight to Atlanta and it was only then that security discovered the 9mm Beretta semi-automatic pistol with 12 bullets in its magazine and one in the chamber. In his carry on bag.

I am so glad to see that security has been tightened since 911.


<a href="http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20011229/ts/crime_airlines_gun_dc_2.html" target="_blank">Full Story</a>

[The Guvnor]

Sirwa69 - already posted this one on the "AA Captain kicks off Secret Service Agent" thread.

For some strange reason, the Yanks don't like it. :) <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> :)

Only in America, eh? <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

[sirwa69]

Guv

This topic is a bit lost in the 'AA Capt' one. Let's let it ride here and watch the fun <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[Al Weaver]

It probably would be best to at least keep the facts straight when you bait the Yanks.

I doubt that he busted more than one security point with an X-ray. Of course that's bad enough.

i.e. &gt;The official also said Brunstein did not have to go through a security checkpoint in Memphis before the random search, because he never left the gate area. Brunstein may have taken the flights in order to build up frequent fliermiles and improve his frequent flier benefits level, the official said. It was not clear whether he passed through a security checkpoint when he changed planes in Atlanta.&lt;

[sirwa69]

FOUL

This topic is about airport security and is relevant to all who fly. It just happended to be in the USA.
Why was this topic moved from Rumours and News which is where all browsers start to an obscure location that very few people use? <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

Please put this back where it belongs <img src="mad.gif" border="0">

[reportfurther]

I can understand Atlanta, only in transit, but how did he get through security in Tampa, xray etc?

Most airports in the US xray ALL hand baggage, even flight crew, and have done even before 911.

[ 30 December 2001: Message edited by: reportfurther ]</p>

[reportfurther]

Now Honolulu Airport shut down due gun scare.

HAWAII state officials have shut down Honolulu's airport after security agents said a man with an object resembling a gun in his carry-on bag had passed undetected through an X-ray checkpoint.

Both the international and inter-island terminals were closed shortly after 9am local time after the man entered the inter-island terminal with the suspected gun.

Security agents were unable to identify the man, only realising after he had passed through security that the X-ray imaging revealed what could have been a gun in his belongings.

Both terminals were evacuated and all persons carrying tickets would be required to return through security checkpoints, Kali said.

Passengers on arriving flights were being held on their aircraft during the search for the bag with the suspected gun, which is on-going.

The shutdown affected several outgoing and inbound overseas flights, as well as all inter-island traffic between the Hawaiian islands.

[AA SLF]

Well this Yank keeps an eye on this forum from time to time. Fancy finding Brits (generically speaking) posting in here. Guv - I didn't mind your posting this news over on "AA Capt", seemed germain to me there. <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> Yes, USA frequent flyers know this "security" stuff is all a bunch of @$&+@.

I wonder if this Bozo is related to Richard Reid? Or maybe he was expecting to run into a US Secret Service Agent! :)

dAAvid -

ps -sirwa69 I agree with you, don't see why it got moved to this deadend forum.

[PaperTiger]

Meanwhile, from the other end of the spectrum (sorry, can't find a link)...

Peninsula Daily News

PORT ANGELES - A Horizon Air flight was delayed Thursday afternoon at William R. Fairchild International Airport when airline employees initially refused to let a California woman carrying nitroglycerin pills board the plane.
The incident began when airline workers questioned 74-year-old Lita Bowman on what she was carrying before she went through metal detectors said Bill Bennett, a relative. Bowman pulled out her heart medication and asked, "What about my nitro?" Bennett said.
The woman has a heart condition that requires her to carry the pills. When a doctor behind her in line explained the pills are heart medication, Bowman was asked for a prescription. Bowman's son-in-law, Dennis Dreith, said he was told FAA regulations prohibit passengers from carrying the pills aboard aircraft. "They told me, 'We have to do it this way'" Dreith said.
While airline employees were trying to stop Bowman, children were running back and forth through the security checkpoint, and some people were walking through unchecked Dreith said. Terrorists couldn't have dreamed up a better diversion. If she had walked through the metal detector without saying anything, no one would have known. Somebody should have had the presence of mind to let her through".
The doctor explained to security personnel that Bowman must carry the pills on her person, and Bowman even took the pills out of the bottle, which had her name on it, to show the medicine is not explosive. Eventually, Horizon Air employees allowed Bowman to board the aircraft, but relatives called the incident harassment and the workers overzealous. Horizon Air public affairs manager Cheryl Temple downplayed the incident, calling it "very mninor".
Officials at Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles said nitroglycerin is prescribed as a heart medication. Nitroglycerin pills dilate blood vessels to the heart and help prevent chest pains caused by a heart condition, said Olympic Medical Center spokeswoman Rhonda LoPresti. The pills are not explosive, she said.

(my emphasis)

[The Guvnor]

Paper Tiger - I'm sorry; I'm going to have to cut and paste this over to R&N!!

Unreal!

Tell me, is it true that something like 70% of Americans [i]still[/b] don't know where Afghanistan is? (Item on Sky News recently...)

[Techman]

Seem to remember from a Michael Moore show once, that 65% of Americans said yes to the following question: "If the current sanctions against Sweden prove unsuccessful, would limited military actions be in order"

Also once saw a Swedish television reporter in New York, asking people on the street to point out the US on a globe. Most couldn't.

So I guess that they would do no better with Afghanistan.