Fun & Games at Southwest... (Merged with other TSA failures)
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Fun & Games at Southwest...
Forwarded to me by email... surprised we haven't heard more:
U.S. Air Agency Directs Search of Aircraft For Banned Items
Oct. 17 (Bloomberg) -- The Transportation Security
Administration is asking all U.S. airlines to search aircraft for
``prohibited items'' after such items were found on some Southwest
Airlines Co. flights.
Southwest said in a statement that it found several items in
a plastic bag in an aircraft lavatory in New Orleans last night
during maintenance of the plane and made a similar discovery in
Houston last night on another aircraft. The bags included a note
that indicated the items were ``intended to challenge'' the U.S.
security procedures, Southwest said.
Southwest said inspections of its fleet of 385 planes found
no additional items. UAL Corp.'s United Airlines is complying
today with the TSA directive after being notified earlier today of
the request, said United spokesman Jeff Green.
``We've already begun the process of complying with the
federally mandated directive to inspect our entire fleet of
aircraft,'' Green said.
Items found on the flight from Orlando to New Orleans
included a ``mock explosive device'' and several box cutters, said
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman William Shumann. The
passengers on the Southwest flight were screened and the flight
was allowed to proceed, he said.
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U.S. Air Agency Directs Search of Aircraft For Banned Items
Oct. 17 (Bloomberg) -- The Transportation Security
Administration is asking all U.S. airlines to search aircraft for
``prohibited items'' after such items were found on some Southwest
Airlines Co. flights.
Southwest said in a statement that it found several items in
a plastic bag in an aircraft lavatory in New Orleans last night
during maintenance of the plane and made a similar discovery in
Houston last night on another aircraft. The bags included a note
that indicated the items were ``intended to challenge'' the U.S.
security procedures, Southwest said.
Southwest said inspections of its fleet of 385 planes found
no additional items. UAL Corp.'s United Airlines is complying
today with the TSA directive after being notified earlier today of
the request, said United spokesman Jeff Green.
``We've already begun the process of complying with the
federally mandated directive to inspect our entire fleet of
aircraft,'' Green said.
Items found on the flight from Orlando to New Orleans
included a ``mock explosive device'' and several box cutters, said
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman William Shumann. The
passengers on the Southwest flight were screened and the flight
was allowed to proceed, he said.
R 1
Ohcirrej
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Forgive me for being dim, but these items were found during Mx, with no passenger interaction, correct?
Who would have had access to the aircraft to put them there?
Who would have had access to the aircraft to put them there?
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Anyone with an airside pass, or any pax with the wit to conceal them from TSA seems to be the 'shortlist'! 
What's the verdict on the perpetrator(s)? Idiots or heros?
Or the little boy who shouted that the emperor had no clothes...?
An anonymous act like this is about the only way to question security in the USA these days, if you don't want to end up on someones little list, that is...
R1
What's the verdict on the perpetrator(s)? Idiots or heros?
Or the little boy who shouted that the emperor had no clothes...?
An anonymous act like this is about the only way to question security in the USA these days, if you don't want to end up on someones little list, that is...
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U/S President jump to this conclusion:
Apparently, some plastic explosive might also have been found
Apparently, some plastic explosive might also have been found
The liquid was contained in suntan lotion bottles; the clay was inside Play-Doh containers, sources said."
Still behind the curtain
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Southwest Threat
I certainly don't want to use the word "inside job," but it certainly sounds like someone with access to those two Southwest aircraft wanted to make a point. Also to be taken into account is that there were no passengers aboard and planes and that the box cutters, the bleach and the "Play-Dough" were found by the cleaning crew.
The so-called sad part is that every U.S. aircraft is now being searched for possible weapons and explosives. Safety should be the No. 1 concern, but not being a security expert, even I think that there is something fishy to this apparent find.
What's there to prevent me from putting cookie dough in a Zip-Lock bag -- the mass won't tweak the security walk through -- and then just leave it in the toilet with a paste-on sign saying C5. This kind of action can stall a nation.
The so-called sad part is that every U.S. aircraft is now being searched for possible weapons and explosives. Safety should be the No. 1 concern, but not being a security expert, even I think that there is something fishy to this apparent find.
What's there to prevent me from putting cookie dough in a Zip-Lock bag -- the mass won't tweak the security walk through -- and then just leave it in the toilet with a paste-on sign saying C5. This kind of action can stall a nation.
Still behind the curtain
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Box Cutters
LGS
Box cutters can be two different kinds of knives.
No. 1) The carpenters box cutter is a kind of a "Stanley" knife which you screw open and put in a one sided razor blade, secure it and then screw it shut.
No. 2) and this is what I think is the most damaging is the cheap plastic sheathed knife for opening envelopes, cardboard boxes and other things like strings and plastic cords on packages. The knife looks like a plastic ball point pen, except it is flatter to accomodate the blade. The blade is not solid but searated so that you can break off the tip when it gets dull and then the next knife edge will take over. When you push the blade out to maximum it could be 6" long or more.
Did I give you a proper explanation, or are you still puzzled.
Box cutters can be two different kinds of knives.
No. 1) The carpenters box cutter is a kind of a "Stanley" knife which you screw open and put in a one sided razor blade, secure it and then screw it shut.
No. 2) and this is what I think is the most damaging is the cheap plastic sheathed knife for opening envelopes, cardboard boxes and other things like strings and plastic cords on packages. The knife looks like a plastic ball point pen, except it is flatter to accomodate the blade. The blade is not solid but searated so that you can break off the tip when it gets dull and then the next knife edge will take over. When you push the blade out to maximum it could be 6" long or more.
Did I give you a proper explanation, or are you still puzzled.
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I sure hope your not a "bad" guy?! If so I might be breaching security by telling you that a "BOX CUTTER" is also called a utility knife. It opens boxes! Usually has a retractable blade so stock boys/men/girls can put it in thier pocket when not needed.
Here is a link with pix.
http://www.garveyproducts.com/cutters.htm
Here is a link with pix.
http://www.garveyproducts.com/cutters.htm
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LGS6753: As far as I know a ‘box-cutter’ is what we Brits would call a Stanley knife: one of the ones where the blade can be pushed out a good few inches.
TR4A: The reports say “a substance resembling plastic explosive has been found”. I posted “apparently some plastic explosive might also have been found”. I don’t think that constitutes jumping to conclusions or scare mongering.
TR4A: The reports say “a substance resembling plastic explosive has been found”. I posted “apparently some plastic explosive might also have been found”. I don’t think that constitutes jumping to conclusions or scare mongering.
Better not get caught
Lèse-Sécurité in the Land of the Frightened can get you a long time in places that make the cages in Guantanamo look like a holiday camp.
Better hope there's no fingerprints on the package that match up to your security check, buddy.
Better hope there's no fingerprints on the package that match up to your security check, buddy.
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I find it hard to believe the US is so far behind us in the UK. The airllne I flew for thorougly searched the aircraft before passengers boarded and again after they disembarked. When will they ever learn?
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Inside Job
Hmm mere speculation on my part but most likely an insider placed these articles on board the aircraft to highlight how ridiculous the current security system actually is.
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Newarksmells. I am giving you the facts of our operations. If security is so good in the US, how come the articles got on board in the first place? Over here ALL the crew did the search and had to sign a document to prove it. If you take it that seriously in the States thjat`s great but I have never seen it.
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Saint Ex,
No,it happens everywhere.I believe you had a similar case in the Uk recently.A reporter got an airside ID with fake references at no less a place than LHR.
I dont condone the practice but the system should be tested.We have too much to lose not to do so.
No,it happens everywhere.I believe you had a similar case in the Uk recently.A reporter got an airside ID with fake references at no less a place than LHR.
I dont condone the practice but the system should be tested.We have too much to lose not to do so.
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TCS
Apparently the TSA's plan is to kill the messenger instead of fixing the problem. Perhaps their own arrogance in maintaining they are the only one's that know how to do it right prevented the TSA from taking the e-mail's seriously. They are the only one's that believe that their system is working against all evidence that it is not.
Wake-up TSA, confiscating nail clippers and the like is merely window dressing and everyone's knows it except the TSA.
I suspect the TSA management are trying to justify their waste of valuable resources..
Meanwhile the aviation indusrty goes down the drain.
Apparently the TSA's plan is to kill the messenger instead of fixing the problem. Perhaps their own arrogance in maintaining they are the only one's that know how to do it right prevented the TSA from taking the e-mail's seriously. They are the only one's that believe that their system is working against all evidence that it is not.
Wake-up TSA, confiscating nail clippers and the like is merely window dressing and everyone's knows it except the TSA.
I suspect the TSA management are trying to justify their waste of valuable resources..
Meanwhile the aviation indusrty goes down the drain.