American Airport Security A Laughing Stock!
Jet Blast Rat
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Whichever versions true (and I suspect, as usual, it is somewhere between the two) then the security and the authorities are in the wrong.
It should not have been easy to go through a closed lane, whether delibrately, accidentally or directed by security personnel. Now the most this woman should get is a slap on the wrist for dodging securiy, if it can be shown that she intentionally did so. Seeing people here say how confusing security can be at this airport, I can't see how they can even make that stick. she should certainly not be treated as a criminal, now she is shown not to be a terrorist.
On Final - no chance of suing them, is there?
It should not have been easy to go through a closed lane, whether delibrately, accidentally or directed by security personnel. Now the most this woman should get is a slap on the wrist for dodging securiy, if it can be shown that she intentionally did so. Seeing people here say how confusing security can be at this airport, I can't see how they can even make that stick. she should certainly not be treated as a criminal, now she is shown not to be a terrorist.
On Final - no chance of suing them, is there?
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Yeah but RoadTrip, the US is still inviting British terrorists on money-raising trips, and even giving them official duties in parades.
Last edited by Send Clowns; 20th Apr 2002 at 09:15.
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Geofj,
If you think it's so easy, try this two-minute demo/test where you are presented with actual Xray images and have to find the threats in real time. Your performance is graded at the end.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/729756.asp?cp1=1
The link takes you to a story, just click the "Interative Can you spot the threats?" link in the right column.
A couple of things you should know about the test results that you quoted.
1. The tests were conducted by people who are completely familair with the procedures in use and the limitations of the equipment so they are able to conceal the test devices so as to minimize the chance of detection. The testers also know all of the profiling criteria so are able to avoid the extra checks. (About half of the 9/11 hijackers were flagged by the profiling in use at the time for additional scrutiny. They didn't have any prohibited items in their checked bags so those extra checks didn't find anything. Today being flagged would trigger the hand search of the luggage which would have found most of the missed items in the test.)
2. The tests were conducted prior to the TSA taking over airport security. Those results will be used as a baseline from which improvement can be measured.
Last I heard, the TSA had hired close to 1000 supervisors who were in the process of being trained. Those supervisors will go out and hire, train, and supervise nearly 30,000 new screeners later this year.
If you think it's so easy, try this two-minute demo/test where you are presented with actual Xray images and have to find the threats in real time. Your performance is graded at the end.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/729756.asp?cp1=1
The link takes you to a story, just click the "Interative Can you spot the threats?" link in the right column.
A couple of things you should know about the test results that you quoted.
1. The tests were conducted by people who are completely familair with the procedures in use and the limitations of the equipment so they are able to conceal the test devices so as to minimize the chance of detection. The testers also know all of the profiling criteria so are able to avoid the extra checks. (About half of the 9/11 hijackers were flagged by the profiling in use at the time for additional scrutiny. They didn't have any prohibited items in their checked bags so those extra checks didn't find anything. Today being flagged would trigger the hand search of the luggage which would have found most of the missed items in the test.)
2. The tests were conducted prior to the TSA taking over airport security. Those results will be used as a baseline from which improvement can be measured.
Last I heard, the TSA had hired close to 1000 supervisors who were in the process of being trained. Those supervisors will go out and hire, train, and supervise nearly 30,000 new screeners later this year.
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Well Now -
Cease Fire folks !!
To All Colonials - The big fight with The Red Coats ended about 230 years ago. That is if you don't count the confrontation where the boys from the British Isles burned Washington pretty good.
But - since then things seemed to have been considerably more amiable. True - we came really close to making German the official language here in the USA - Now think how that might have changed the history books !! But that's another subject.
Point is - we should not be at each others throats on the things I've seen in here. We all know that what we have right now is " The Greatest Security Show On Earth " - It has many holes - It is infuriating - It is amatuerish - We all hope to God that it will improve dramatically before it's too late. As regards the funding of terrorists - We all have problems in this area. Collectively we have all been remiss as regards these types of people. Perhaps this will change. We have all had a hand in creating most of the monsters turned lose in the world - the reasons are too many to list. I think it is now safe to say that we can no longer allow ourselves the luxury of this form of neglect. It has now gone way too far. Yes - we as Americans have been shocked by what happened - Our neglect/disregard/arrogance to a certain degree backed up on us in one big swoop. We now have to face the facts as they are in todays world - and we must deal with them - now.
We have called on our freinds - Yes Colonials that includes England - to join with us to go fight this fight.
Our countries are now the best freinds each other has in this world.
We have been there for them on a number of notable occassions - ie WWI, WWII, Falklands. They have returned our help in kind - and will continue to do so. Who else can you say that of?
We are in this together - to the end.
We shall stand or fall together.
United We Stand.
Best Regards To All
NX211
Cease Fire folks !!
To All Colonials - The big fight with The Red Coats ended about 230 years ago. That is if you don't count the confrontation where the boys from the British Isles burned Washington pretty good.
But - since then things seemed to have been considerably more amiable. True - we came really close to making German the official language here in the USA - Now think how that might have changed the history books !! But that's another subject.
Point is - we should not be at each others throats on the things I've seen in here. We all know that what we have right now is " The Greatest Security Show On Earth " - It has many holes - It is infuriating - It is amatuerish - We all hope to God that it will improve dramatically before it's too late. As regards the funding of terrorists - We all have problems in this area. Collectively we have all been remiss as regards these types of people. Perhaps this will change. We have all had a hand in creating most of the monsters turned lose in the world - the reasons are too many to list. I think it is now safe to say that we can no longer allow ourselves the luxury of this form of neglect. It has now gone way too far. Yes - we as Americans have been shocked by what happened - Our neglect/disregard/arrogance to a certain degree backed up on us in one big swoop. We now have to face the facts as they are in todays world - and we must deal with them - now.
We have called on our freinds - Yes Colonials that includes England - to join with us to go fight this fight.
Our countries are now the best freinds each other has in this world.
We have been there for them on a number of notable occassions - ie WWI, WWII, Falklands. They have returned our help in kind - and will continue to do so. Who else can you say that of?
We are in this together - to the end.
We shall stand or fall together.
United We Stand.
Best Regards To All
NX211
NX 211: That was a good attempt at mediation/arbitration.
The FAA and/or Congress seems concerned that the people who seem to superficially fit the 'profile' would run to the media and yell "rascism" if the FAA applied security based on its information.
On the other hand: 1) the Oklahoma City terrorist, the late Timothy McVeigh, was a Caucasian Desert Storm veteran from upstate New York. 2) El Al, the Israeli Airline, found many years ago during the long check-in 'interview' that a British or Irish lady was trying to carry a package onboard for a boyfriend of Middle Eastern origin (with the PFLP or PLO?), who had hidden a bomb inside without her knowledge. I don't know what the perfect solution is, but the present system is quite frustrating. Beginning about two weeks ago, voluntarily putting my uniform shoes (which contain metal) in the plastic container every time, means that I get the wand treatment rarely, which saves time and embarassment-it is a relief.
As far as North America goes, personally I have always preferred the style of security personnel at Canadian airports (YEG,YYC,YWG,YYC,YUL...). They have always appeared and behaved in a much more professional manner than most US airport personnel.
The FAA and/or Congress seems concerned that the people who seem to superficially fit the 'profile' would run to the media and yell "rascism" if the FAA applied security based on its information.
On the other hand: 1) the Oklahoma City terrorist, the late Timothy McVeigh, was a Caucasian Desert Storm veteran from upstate New York. 2) El Al, the Israeli Airline, found many years ago during the long check-in 'interview' that a British or Irish lady was trying to carry a package onboard for a boyfriend of Middle Eastern origin (with the PFLP or PLO?), who had hidden a bomb inside without her knowledge. I don't know what the perfect solution is, but the present system is quite frustrating. Beginning about two weeks ago, voluntarily putting my uniform shoes (which contain metal) in the plastic container every time, means that I get the wand treatment rarely, which saves time and embarassment-it is a relief.
As far as North America goes, personally I have always preferred the style of security personnel at Canadian airports (YEG,YYC,YWG,YYC,YUL...). They have always appeared and behaved in a much more professional manner than most US airport personnel.
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Believe with the advent of TSA the FAA is mostly out of the "retail" passenger security business. And a good job too.
Now if everybody would also understand that the FAA has nothing directly to do with the commercial aspects of airline operations (frequent flyer programs, fares, schedules, permission to operate from Armpit to Lower Slobovia, cabotage (whatever that is), fifth freedom (and freedom's 1 through 4 too), the coffee too hot/too cold, pax seats too close together, etc would be a lot easier.
All concerned should understand that even when FAA had security responsibility it was limited by the Congress and the "input" of stakeholders in industry and other places in what it was allowed to do. And if it made things too tight, or even talked about it, rightous indignation, rockets (metaphorical) and direction followed from higher level management. Where were they 9/11?
Because FAA "didn't do it's job" (never mind wasn't allowed to) TSA will now take over and everything will be grand. Direction from upper level management since 9/11 on absolute enforcement of the letter of the regulations (b*&^%&* common sense) came from law enforcement and national security by edict. Now you have a TSA staffed by very few people who know the pointy end from the blunt end of an airplane or how aviation runs, so good luck. It will cost the earth for, I think, a modest increase in security and keep the "me too" and not so tightly wrapped terrorists (the majority) at bay, but the real sophisticated operators are already on to different ways of getting into the airport or airplane or to other means of producing terror anyway.
Now if everybody would also understand that the FAA has nothing directly to do with the commercial aspects of airline operations (frequent flyer programs, fares, schedules, permission to operate from Armpit to Lower Slobovia, cabotage (whatever that is), fifth freedom (and freedom's 1 through 4 too), the coffee too hot/too cold, pax seats too close together, etc would be a lot easier.
All concerned should understand that even when FAA had security responsibility it was limited by the Congress and the "input" of stakeholders in industry and other places in what it was allowed to do. And if it made things too tight, or even talked about it, rightous indignation, rockets (metaphorical) and direction followed from higher level management. Where were they 9/11?
Because FAA "didn't do it's job" (never mind wasn't allowed to) TSA will now take over and everything will be grand. Direction from upper level management since 9/11 on absolute enforcement of the letter of the regulations (b*&^%&* common sense) came from law enforcement and national security by edict. Now you have a TSA staffed by very few people who know the pointy end from the blunt end of an airplane or how aviation runs, so good luck. It will cost the earth for, I think, a modest increase in security and keep the "me too" and not so tightly wrapped terrorists (the majority) at bay, but the real sophisticated operators are already on to different ways of getting into the airport or airplane or to other means of producing terror anyway.
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There´s another topic at the moment about pilots being paid too much.Having read most of the hogwash on this topic,I am inclined to agree with it.The inanity of some would be funny if it werent so sad.This isnt jetblast after all.The postings of West Coast and NX211 do restore some sanity and maturity.Well said.
The treatment of this woman was unfortunate but understandable.With so much at stake,nothing can be taken for granted.Next time she´ll get there on time.
Just a word to some person calling himself AdamUK..crawl back in the hole from whence you came.Bet its an orange hole too.
The treatment of this woman was unfortunate but understandable.With so much at stake,nothing can be taken for granted.Next time she´ll get there on time.
Just a word to some person calling himself AdamUK..crawl back in the hole from whence you came.Bet its an orange hole too.
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Send Clowns,
The thought to pursue any legal action due to the insulin pump incident never crossed my mind. I was infuriated to say the least; However, I was reluctant to let my name be strewn across the media and end up being on some "Internet Airport Security Post"
that would obviously bring much unwanted attention.
As far as this whole "Security" discussion is converned, we are only as secure as we perceive to be. Security is nothing but a feeling and an illusion.
Look at the Presedential Secret Service, you know ALL possibilities of an attempt at assanation are examined and scrutinized to no end. But occasionally some "mentally- deranged" will find a way.
My point is you can not implement laws/policies to prevent these "mentally-deranged" individuals/groups from carrying-out haneous acts and not expect the innocent to pay the price.
The thought to pursue any legal action due to the insulin pump incident never crossed my mind. I was infuriated to say the least; However, I was reluctant to let my name be strewn across the media and end up being on some "Internet Airport Security Post"
that would obviously bring much unwanted attention. As far as this whole "Security" discussion is converned, we are only as secure as we perceive to be. Security is nothing but a feeling and an illusion.
Look at the Presedential Secret Service, you know ALL possibilities of an attempt at assanation are examined and scrutinized to no end. But occasionally some "mentally- deranged" will find a way.
My point is you can not implement laws/policies to prevent these "mentally-deranged" individuals/groups from carrying-out haneous acts and not expect the innocent to pay the price.
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Hmmm... Here's my recent experience.
LHR-LAX-AKL (Air NZ)
At LHR full screening of hand baggage. Removal of shoes for screening, metal detector and wand and body search. At LAX, after an overnight stop and re check-in, only hand luggage through X-Ray.
AKL-LAX-LHR
At AKL, even more stringent checks including through the metal detector and HB X-Ray twice and Shoes off for screening. Identity coroboration twice (thrice if you count at check-in). At LAX after another overnight stop, same thing - only hand baggage through the X-Ray.
Obviously secuity is so good in the states that there is no need to do anymore than x-ray hand baggage!
LHR-LAX-AKL (Air NZ)
At LHR full screening of hand baggage. Removal of shoes for screening, metal detector and wand and body search. At LAX, after an overnight stop and re check-in, only hand luggage through X-Ray.
AKL-LAX-LHR
At AKL, even more stringent checks including through the metal detector and HB X-Ray twice and Shoes off for screening. Identity coroboration twice (thrice if you count at check-in). At LAX after another overnight stop, same thing - only hand baggage through the X-Ray.
Obviously secuity is so good in the states that there is no need to do anymore than x-ray hand baggage!
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Not Yank bashing
NX211
Good post; I fully agree with you. However, if we are to address the problems in any area of our lives, we cannot do it by ignoring the deficiencies. There are deficiencies in the security system at PHL that I recognise and feel I should point out on this forum.
There are also problems with what I see as a general tendency at the moment at US borders to be over-zealous with security and to treat all passengers as little more than criminals. This may appear to some as a distasteful but necessary part of increased security, but I beg to differ.
I don't think I'm being self-righteous. There are many things that are wrong with Britain. The NHS is an obvious one that comes to mind, and if this were a forum about health issues, I would be spending my time criticising the health shambles in the UK. However, this is a forum about air travel, and this thread concerns air security, which is an area where I believe the USA could learn from the UK and other nations.
One of the privileges of having lived for a significant time on both sides of he Atlantic is that I feel somewhat qualified to look at both American and British society with a degree of objectivity - or at least with some knowledge of both. I certainly don't intend to demean Americans or the USA in general. We should all be big enough to take criticism without feeling threatened by it.
I stand by my assertion. I find it unlikely that the woman at the centre of this controversy would have been treated in the same way had the episode occurred in a British airport. There is no implied criticism of Americans in general here, nor is there a suggesiton that we British are any better than you. It is simply a statement that I think few people would disagree with: that American security officials tend to go about their job with a little more force and a little less courtesy than do their British counterparts.
I don't think either way leads to more effective security either (in any case, that is a separate issue), but I do think that the British way is less likely to put an innocent traveller through law-enforcement hell, as this woman claims she was.
Good post; I fully agree with you. However, if we are to address the problems in any area of our lives, we cannot do it by ignoring the deficiencies. There are deficiencies in the security system at PHL that I recognise and feel I should point out on this forum.
There are also problems with what I see as a general tendency at the moment at US borders to be over-zealous with security and to treat all passengers as little more than criminals. This may appear to some as a distasteful but necessary part of increased security, but I beg to differ.
I don't think I'm being self-righteous. There are many things that are wrong with Britain. The NHS is an obvious one that comes to mind, and if this were a forum about health issues, I would be spending my time criticising the health shambles in the UK. However, this is a forum about air travel, and this thread concerns air security, which is an area where I believe the USA could learn from the UK and other nations.
One of the privileges of having lived for a significant time on both sides of he Atlantic is that I feel somewhat qualified to look at both American and British society with a degree of objectivity - or at least with some knowledge of both. I certainly don't intend to demean Americans or the USA in general. We should all be big enough to take criticism without feeling threatened by it.
I stand by my assertion. I find it unlikely that the woman at the centre of this controversy would have been treated in the same way had the episode occurred in a British airport. There is no implied criticism of Americans in general here, nor is there a suggesiton that we British are any better than you. It is simply a statement that I think few people would disagree with: that American security officials tend to go about their job with a little more force and a little less courtesy than do their British counterparts.
I don't think either way leads to more effective security either (in any case, that is a separate issue), but I do think that the British way is less likely to put an innocent traveller through law-enforcement hell, as this woman claims she was.
Last edited by Covenant; 23rd Apr 2002 at 17:24.
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Addendum
Having read my previous post, I feel I should add a follow-up regarding a big difference between British and US culture which could account for the disparity of opinion on this subject.
I have noticed that in the USA it is an unremarkable occurrence, that barely merits page four local news, for a teenager to be shot and killed by police because his car was mistaken for one used as a getaway car by armed bank robbers. However, this is something that we Brits would find deeply shocking and would lead to front page national headlines for days with numerous inquests, investigations and documentaries.
It should therefore maybe not come as a suprise that most Americans do not bat an eyelid when reading of this woman's story, whereas the Brits feel righteously indignant. We can't change the way we were brought up, but there is bound to be a clash of cultures in cases such as this.
I have noticed that in the USA it is an unremarkable occurrence, that barely merits page four local news, for a teenager to be shot and killed by police because his car was mistaken for one used as a getaway car by armed bank robbers. However, this is something that we Brits would find deeply shocking and would lead to front page national headlines for days with numerous inquests, investigations and documentaries.
It should therefore maybe not come as a suprise that most Americans do not bat an eyelid when reading of this woman's story, whereas the Brits feel righteously indignant. We can't change the way we were brought up, but there is bound to be a clash of cultures in cases such as this.
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Re: Addendum
This may seem like a contentious response, but it is not.
Regarding this:
" . . . . a teenager to be shot and killed by police because his car was mistaken for one used as a getaway car by armed bank robbers."
would you please provide more than one recent example, to support your assertion that such a case would be viewed -anywhere in the US - as "unremarkable"?
As to this - "law-enforcement hell" - it is a fine example of exactly what I mean. What "hell" was that? The whole basis of this statement appears to be that she spent some time behind bars and jail is not a very nice place to be. The description of "law-enforcement hell" is entirely predicated on a premise that she did nothing wrong and that everything that happened to her was completely unjustified. See what I mean?
Earlier in this thread, I mentioned the case of a non-resident arrested for speeding on the M1 who was banged up in Milton Keynes Central for four hours while the boys in blue figured out what to do with him. True case, for I was that unfortunate. Was it a nice place to be? No, it bloody well wasn't! Was the company what I would have liked it to be? No, it bloody well wasn't! Was it "law enforcement hell"? Not hardly.
Regarding different cultural responses to the incident which started this whole thread, I think you are right about the differences but not about the reasons. The tone of the UK press coverage and the response of her MP was completely uncritical. Her assertions were taken at face value, and one may see the immediate response generated among some UK participants, along the lines of "well, of course, those bloody Yanks, no manners at all, they always go over the top . . . " and so on and so forth.
You may note that US participants are generally more cautious - some might say cynical - about taking her assertions at face value. There's two sides to every story. There certainly isn't enough known yet to make the sorts of broad and sweeping generalization which is the title of this thread.
llater,
llamas
Regarding this:
" . . . . a teenager to be shot and killed by police because his car was mistaken for one used as a getaway car by armed bank robbers."
would you please provide more than one recent example, to support your assertion that such a case would be viewed -anywhere in the US - as "unremarkable"?
As to this - "law-enforcement hell" - it is a fine example of exactly what I mean. What "hell" was that? The whole basis of this statement appears to be that she spent some time behind bars and jail is not a very nice place to be. The description of "law-enforcement hell" is entirely predicated on a premise that she did nothing wrong and that everything that happened to her was completely unjustified. See what I mean?
Earlier in this thread, I mentioned the case of a non-resident arrested for speeding on the M1 who was banged up in Milton Keynes Central for four hours while the boys in blue figured out what to do with him. True case, for I was that unfortunate. Was it a nice place to be? No, it bloody well wasn't! Was the company what I would have liked it to be? No, it bloody well wasn't! Was it "law enforcement hell"? Not hardly.
Regarding different cultural responses to the incident which started this whole thread, I think you are right about the differences but not about the reasons. The tone of the UK press coverage and the response of her MP was completely uncritical. Her assertions were taken at face value, and one may see the immediate response generated among some UK participants, along the lines of "well, of course, those bloody Yanks, no manners at all, they always go over the top . . . " and so on and so forth.
You may note that US participants are generally more cautious - some might say cynical - about taking her assertions at face value. There's two sides to every story. There certainly isn't enough known yet to make the sorts of broad and sweeping generalization which is the title of this thread.
llater,
llamas
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llamas
From the specificity of my example, you correctly deduce that I was referring to a particular case.
The incident I referred to happened maybe a month or two ago and was reported in the local Wilmington News Journal in about three or four column inches in the middle pages. I think the actual incident happened in Washington, or maybe Baltimore, and the FBI were the ones responsible for the shooting. I'm afraid I don't have a copy of the newspaper to hand, as I don't keep them.
There are exceptions that prove the rule (your case of the speeding American banged up in MK is one), but given time, I could probably lay my hands on hundreds of similar incidents depicting what Brits would consider a very heavy-handed approach to law-enforcement in the USA.
Your assertion that Americans are more cynical to the claims of the victims of police zealotry only goes to prove my point, and exactly demostrates the different cultural approaches to law-enforcement that I was trying to illustrate.
In Britain, we would tend to give the benefit of the doubt to the civilian, and expect the police to give good reason as to why a citizen was shot or beaten or imprisoned. We apply the concept of "innocent until proven guilty" outside the courtroom as well as inside so that instead of a "shoot first, ask questions later" policy, we expect the police to use minimum force and minimum restraint at all times - and there is hell to pay if they don't.
That's just the way it is, and I have seen numerous occasions of it personally and by report. If I was to be asked for one piece of advice to give a potential immigrant to the USA from Britain (slightly tongue in cheek but with a very serious undertone), it would be that you remember that in America it is you who refer to the police as "sir" and not vice versa.
I do however agree with you that the title of this thread does not in any way describe the problems raised by this incident. There are still security issue at US airports that I think could be improved upon, but this incident is not an issue of the efficacy of the security, but rather the consequences of its implementation.
From the specificity of my example, you correctly deduce that I was referring to a particular case.
The incident I referred to happened maybe a month or two ago and was reported in the local Wilmington News Journal in about three or four column inches in the middle pages. I think the actual incident happened in Washington, or maybe Baltimore, and the FBI were the ones responsible for the shooting. I'm afraid I don't have a copy of the newspaper to hand, as I don't keep them.
There are exceptions that prove the rule (your case of the speeding American banged up in MK is one), but given time, I could probably lay my hands on hundreds of similar incidents depicting what Brits would consider a very heavy-handed approach to law-enforcement in the USA.
Your assertion that Americans are more cynical to the claims of the victims of police zealotry only goes to prove my point, and exactly demostrates the different cultural approaches to law-enforcement that I was trying to illustrate.
In Britain, we would tend to give the benefit of the doubt to the civilian, and expect the police to give good reason as to why a citizen was shot or beaten or imprisoned. We apply the concept of "innocent until proven guilty" outside the courtroom as well as inside so that instead of a "shoot first, ask questions later" policy, we expect the police to use minimum force and minimum restraint at all times - and there is hell to pay if they don't.
That's just the way it is, and I have seen numerous occasions of it personally and by report. If I was to be asked for one piece of advice to give a potential immigrant to the USA from Britain (slightly tongue in cheek but with a very serious undertone), it would be that you remember that in America it is you who refer to the police as "sir" and not vice versa.
I do however agree with you that the title of this thread does not in any way describe the problems raised by this incident. There are still security issue at US airports that I think could be improved upon, but this incident is not an issue of the efficacy of the security, but rather the consequences of its implementation.
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...and her sentence?
From Ananova:
"A British hairdresser whose sprint to catch a flight caused the shutdown of Philadelphia International Airport has been convicted of a misdemeanour trespass charge.
Sarah Johnson plans to appeal against her conviction by a municipal court judge who suspended a possible one-year prison sentence but fined her £325 plus court costs.
The security breach and resulting 90-minute shutdown in February cost the airport an estimated £500,000, her lawyer John Elbert said.
"This is why the whole prosecution came about," Mr Elbert said in court. He plans to appeal against the conviction before Johnson flies home on Sunday.
Johnson, who had flown from Gatwick airport on February 22, was running late after clearing customs and immigration for a connecting US Airways flight to Puerto Rico, where she planned to work on a cruise ship.
Johnson, who said she did no wrong, told the court that several officials along the way to the gate gave her directions. At one point she said she encountered a ticket agent who allowed her to go around the metal detector.
The ticket agent later testified that she did not say Johnson could go around the metal detector and said she tried to call her back.
During the shutdown, passengers were taken off planes and sent through security a second time; search dogs were sent aboard planes to sniff for explosives; 1,800 to 2,000 passengers were evacuated and flights in and out of the airport were halted.
Johnson said she hoped her faith in the American justice system would be restored.
"I've not much faith in it so far but I hope that will change when I file my appeal," she said."
"A British hairdresser whose sprint to catch a flight caused the shutdown of Philadelphia International Airport has been convicted of a misdemeanour trespass charge.
Sarah Johnson plans to appeal against her conviction by a municipal court judge who suspended a possible one-year prison sentence but fined her £325 plus court costs.
The security breach and resulting 90-minute shutdown in February cost the airport an estimated £500,000, her lawyer John Elbert said.
"This is why the whole prosecution came about," Mr Elbert said in court. He plans to appeal against the conviction before Johnson flies home on Sunday.
Johnson, who had flown from Gatwick airport on February 22, was running late after clearing customs and immigration for a connecting US Airways flight to Puerto Rico, where she planned to work on a cruise ship.
Johnson, who said she did no wrong, told the court that several officials along the way to the gate gave her directions. At one point she said she encountered a ticket agent who allowed her to go around the metal detector.
The ticket agent later testified that she did not say Johnson could go around the metal detector and said she tried to call her back.
During the shutdown, passengers were taken off planes and sent through security a second time; search dogs were sent aboard planes to sniff for explosives; 1,800 to 2,000 passengers were evacuated and flights in and out of the airport were halted.
Johnson said she hoped her faith in the American justice system would be restored.
"I've not much faith in it so far but I hope that will change when I file my appeal," she said."
Just call me Rotty
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Rotty's Bar and Grill (@RJAF) Shinshu JP
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View from the rear
Dear Captains, et.al.
I may not be in the air as much as you, and the view is much worse where I usually have to sit. However, just 38,000 more frequent flyer miles and a major American carrier is awarding me my own 747-400, so I speak with the benefit of some experience.
I guarantee you that the rank and file of Economy class passengers who travel through American airports do not share some of your relatively fond memories of the trip through security. For you who arrive at the field with flight bag in hand the security checkpoint is but one minor deviation on an otherwise unobscured course to the relative comfort and serenity of the cockpit. I arrive only after organizing my family, gear, and home for a trip lasting perhaps 3 weeks. After waiting in line up to 2 hours to get a boarding pass, toting aforementioned gear through a maze of rope barriers, corraling my 5 year old son any number of times; in short, a family on vacation.
I'm not complaining about any of that, it comes with the territory. But I hope you can see that you and I might be in a different state of mind when we hit the checkpoint.
What's on your mind, then? No doubt the flight, of course, the wind and the machine and who you'll be flying with, any of a million things. Maybe you're thinking of the port you're headed to, that great hotel and night spot, just a taxi ride away. You're flying the thing of course, and if push comes to shove you KNOW that in the end you will be above suspicion and on your way shortly.
My own course at arrival is slightly more complicated, not to mention the ammenities enroute. And I have no Company prepared defense with with to erase all doubt or predetermination on my way to the assigned seat.
I've seen you breeze by on the inside lane many a time, while I and my brood stand guilty until proven innocent, trying desperately to enjoy our holiday while at the same time feeling violated, not by the security check itself but by the unspoken threat that seems to hang in the air..."one false move buddy, and you're not flying anywhere"...never have I been made to feel so small and so despised. Less than "just another number" my status is reduced because I, who love the air as much as you, have chosen to travel through it.
I understand the need for increased security and am more than willing to have any and all items, including my person, thoroughly searched in the interest of safer air travel. I am NOT willing to be treated as some sort of inferior class citizen because I fly. "Don't be so cooperative," said the guard, pretty clearly an off-duty cop, for whom I had raised my arms, he having made it apparent that he was going to pat me down, "we'll think you're trying to hide something." This, along with his demeanor and entire posture said to me quite clearly "I'll bust you if I want to and ask questions later.". Or perhaps he was just trying to offer some friendly advice.
I might add that I am a caucasian American, clean cut, 36; my wife is a beautiful, petite 40 kgs. My son could charm the world. We have been through several non-American airports this year, some with quite a bit more security than found Stateside, and were never apparently viewed as a security threat or singled out for special attention. We were certainly never offered snide remarks.
To wrap it up, it is this type of heavy handedness and lack of taste, more than the threat of any terrorist attack, that has caused us to take only one trip to the States this year, when we usually go every other month or so. And I'll bet dollars to doghnuts that's why a good deal of the passengers who haven't done much flying to the USA this year stayed away. The skies are still friendly, but getting there is not. Consistent courteous and professional treatment at the security checkpoint would go a long way to making the entire experience of flying pleasant again, and probably a h@ll of a lot safer. With more passengers to enjoy it all, on top.
IMHO
I may not be in the air as much as you, and the view is much worse where I usually have to sit. However, just 38,000 more frequent flyer miles and a major American carrier is awarding me my own 747-400, so I speak with the benefit of some experience.
I guarantee you that the rank and file of Economy class passengers who travel through American airports do not share some of your relatively fond memories of the trip through security. For you who arrive at the field with flight bag in hand the security checkpoint is but one minor deviation on an otherwise unobscured course to the relative comfort and serenity of the cockpit. I arrive only after organizing my family, gear, and home for a trip lasting perhaps 3 weeks. After waiting in line up to 2 hours to get a boarding pass, toting aforementioned gear through a maze of rope barriers, corraling my 5 year old son any number of times; in short, a family on vacation.
I'm not complaining about any of that, it comes with the territory. But I hope you can see that you and I might be in a different state of mind when we hit the checkpoint.
What's on your mind, then? No doubt the flight, of course, the wind and the machine and who you'll be flying with, any of a million things. Maybe you're thinking of the port you're headed to, that great hotel and night spot, just a taxi ride away. You're flying the thing of course, and if push comes to shove you KNOW that in the end you will be above suspicion and on your way shortly.
My own course at arrival is slightly more complicated, not to mention the ammenities enroute. And I have no Company prepared defense with with to erase all doubt or predetermination on my way to the assigned seat.
I've seen you breeze by on the inside lane many a time, while I and my brood stand guilty until proven innocent, trying desperately to enjoy our holiday while at the same time feeling violated, not by the security check itself but by the unspoken threat that seems to hang in the air..."one false move buddy, and you're not flying anywhere"...never have I been made to feel so small and so despised. Less than "just another number" my status is reduced because I, who love the air as much as you, have chosen to travel through it.
I understand the need for increased security and am more than willing to have any and all items, including my person, thoroughly searched in the interest of safer air travel. I am NOT willing to be treated as some sort of inferior class citizen because I fly. "Don't be so cooperative," said the guard, pretty clearly an off-duty cop, for whom I had raised my arms, he having made it apparent that he was going to pat me down, "we'll think you're trying to hide something." This, along with his demeanor and entire posture said to me quite clearly "I'll bust you if I want to and ask questions later.". Or perhaps he was just trying to offer some friendly advice.
I might add that I am a caucasian American, clean cut, 36; my wife is a beautiful, petite 40 kgs. My son could charm the world. We have been through several non-American airports this year, some with quite a bit more security than found Stateside, and were never apparently viewed as a security threat or singled out for special attention. We were certainly never offered snide remarks.
To wrap it up, it is this type of heavy handedness and lack of taste, more than the threat of any terrorist attack, that has caused us to take only one trip to the States this year, when we usually go every other month or so. And I'll bet dollars to doghnuts that's why a good deal of the passengers who haven't done much flying to the USA this year stayed away. The skies are still friendly, but getting there is not. Consistent courteous and professional treatment at the security checkpoint would go a long way to making the entire experience of flying pleasant again, and probably a h@ll of a lot safer. With more passengers to enjoy it all, on top.
IMHO
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: LAX
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a laugh stock for sure
I agree that US airport security is a joke....for years the yanks never thought that a threat would come from within the domestic US and then came Tim McVeigh......
Now they have gone totally overboard and over reacting at the small things.......they can't seem to see the woods from the trees.
Yes is it still worring that items are getting through the screening but i still insist that you have to go back to the people who are screening...in KATL it is generally people who are not the best at communicating...hence if you query something you are immediately thought to be a terrorist (being foreign) and have a nice chat with a LEO or an armed guard with no brain who shouts "keeping moving mister" at you.
Now if they US DOT invested some money in finding genuine nice people who take their jobs seriously but can still be humane then i think that passing through the security systems would be alot easier and pleasant....
YES i agree that it is every passanger's responsibiity to get to the airport on time and to have all the necessary barred items placed in the check luggage.....
But i am finding more and more that this country is not now the land of the free....and nowyou are guilty till proven innoccent in a court of law.....
Soon it will be the animals running the farm.....4 legs good 2 legs bad......oooooh sorry some of them already ARE!!!!!!!
Now they have gone totally overboard and over reacting at the small things.......they can't seem to see the woods from the trees.
Yes is it still worring that items are getting through the screening but i still insist that you have to go back to the people who are screening...in KATL it is generally people who are not the best at communicating...hence if you query something you are immediately thought to be a terrorist (being foreign) and have a nice chat with a LEO or an armed guard with no brain who shouts "keeping moving mister" at you.
Now if they US DOT invested some money in finding genuine nice people who take their jobs seriously but can still be humane then i think that passing through the security systems would be alot easier and pleasant....
YES i agree that it is every passanger's responsibiity to get to the airport on time and to have all the necessary barred items placed in the check luggage.....
But i am finding more and more that this country is not now the land of the free....and nowyou are guilty till proven innoccent in a court of law.....
Soon it will be the animals running the farm.....4 legs good 2 legs bad......oooooh sorry some of them already ARE!!!!!!!
Join Date: Mar 2001
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Tape 'not available'
http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/...99&method=full
Seems the video tape of the Sarah Johnson PHL incident was 'no longer available' at her trial.
Hmmm. Wonder if Rose Mary Woods* works at PHL now ?
* See Watergate for our younger readers
Seems the video tape of the Sarah Johnson PHL incident was 'no longer available' at her trial.
Hmmm. Wonder if Rose Mary Woods* works at PHL now ?
* See Watergate for our younger readers
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Horsham UK
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Now just hang on a minute, with the exception of a few mollifying remarks much of this thread has degenerated into a "were better than you" type bashing. I’ve travelled in and out of the US a number of times in the last year and my experience has been mixed. Yes, the provision for security srceening and indeed some of those doing the screening has been woefully inadequate. But that is not necessarily a fair or accurate picture.
Let’s examine the realities… take the facilities…US airports have been designed with the idea that all comers may enter the airside, pax and weepers and greeters. The concept of the pax only airside has only come to the fore in the last 11 months. As a result the layout of terminals works against an efficient processing of passengers…major re-design is needed.
Of course these changes in infrastructure will take a long time to implement and in the meantime we will have to deal with what they’ve got. Sure add more x-ray machines but that won’t solve the problem improve it but solve it sadly not.
The people problem is another thing all together:
For example the case of the US Marine explaining (with difficulty) to the JFK security worker (who appears to have only a rudimentary grasp of poor English) that the cap badge on his dress hat (in his carry on baggage) would be unlikely to present a security threat (bear in mind that the photo ID he was using was none other than his military ID card) While the weekend warrior on guard at the security checkpoint gave him his ‘baddest stare’.
Or the ‘new man dad’ pax at the security checkpoint that refused to take his sleeping toddler out of its pushchair so it can be run through the X-ray machine while the MIA security bod (with incredible patience and humour – I’d have been rude) explained for the umpteenth time that the stroller had to go through the machine and there was no way he was gonna put it through with the sprog still in it. While the now stalled queue behind ‘new man dad’ stretched back into the distance.
Then there was the case of ATL which had queues for security stretching out of the terminal. Lines controlled by a big hardass looking policeman who marshalled literally hundreds perhaps even a thousand people with efficiency and good humour which improved the experience of all those travelling.
Swings and roundabouts you see – there will always be an element who think that a uniform buys them the right to be rude to all and sundry – and it’s not limited to the US.
I have to say that every enounter I had with cops in the States (OK I haven’t been arrested for anything either – but including being stopped for speeding and a doing a U-turn) The cop in question has always been courteous and professional – (but maybe I’ve just been lucky).
Yes there are elements of the US security system that need work but it is starting from a relatively low datum point and it appears to be improving rapidly.
Yep some of the people working at security checkpoints would find a job at McDonalds a mental stretch but some elements of the great travelling public equally do their best to bollox things up too.
Yep, there will be from time to time over-reactions by pax and or security types but it’s important to remember that the real picture may not be as it is reported – just what fits the whatever angle the journo writing the story decided to put on it.
Let’s examine the realities… take the facilities…US airports have been designed with the idea that all comers may enter the airside, pax and weepers and greeters. The concept of the pax only airside has only come to the fore in the last 11 months. As a result the layout of terminals works against an efficient processing of passengers…major re-design is needed.
Of course these changes in infrastructure will take a long time to implement and in the meantime we will have to deal with what they’ve got. Sure add more x-ray machines but that won’t solve the problem improve it but solve it sadly not.
The people problem is another thing all together:
For example the case of the US Marine explaining (with difficulty) to the JFK security worker (who appears to have only a rudimentary grasp of poor English) that the cap badge on his dress hat (in his carry on baggage) would be unlikely to present a security threat (bear in mind that the photo ID he was using was none other than his military ID card) While the weekend warrior on guard at the security checkpoint gave him his ‘baddest stare’.
Or the ‘new man dad’ pax at the security checkpoint that refused to take his sleeping toddler out of its pushchair so it can be run through the X-ray machine while the MIA security bod (with incredible patience and humour – I’d have been rude) explained for the umpteenth time that the stroller had to go through the machine and there was no way he was gonna put it through with the sprog still in it. While the now stalled queue behind ‘new man dad’ stretched back into the distance.
Then there was the case of ATL which had queues for security stretching out of the terminal. Lines controlled by a big hardass looking policeman who marshalled literally hundreds perhaps even a thousand people with efficiency and good humour which improved the experience of all those travelling.
Swings and roundabouts you see – there will always be an element who think that a uniform buys them the right to be rude to all and sundry – and it’s not limited to the US.
I have to say that every enounter I had with cops in the States (OK I haven’t been arrested for anything either – but including being stopped for speeding and a doing a U-turn) The cop in question has always been courteous and professional – (but maybe I’ve just been lucky).
Yes there are elements of the US security system that need work but it is starting from a relatively low datum point and it appears to be improving rapidly.
Yep some of the people working at security checkpoints would find a job at McDonalds a mental stretch but some elements of the great travelling public equally do their best to bollox things up too.
Yep, there will be from time to time over-reactions by pax and or security types but it’s important to remember that the real picture may not be as it is reported – just what fits the whatever angle the journo writing the story decided to put on it.