TSA Dullards Allow Man On Plane Without Security Check
The best is, after he was turned away for a lack of ID and boarding pass, they watched him slip through the airport's secure area with his badge (he's a Delta employee) but waited 45 minutes to call Port Authority Cops.
(This isn't to say I think we're in real danger from behavior like this or that the TSA's job is anything more than a security puppet show.)
From the New York Post, Philip Messing and Bill Sanderson write:
Marcelino Aponte, 31, had a reservation on Delta Flight 2159 from Kennedy to Orlando last night.But Aponte had no boarding pass and no proper ID, and Transportation Security Administration screeners turned him away at a security barrier.
So Aponte -- a Delta employee -- used his special work ID to make his way to the plane via the airport's secure areas, said law enforcement sources.
A security guard and another witness watched as Aponte tried to pass through a secure doorway in Delta's Terminal 2. They noted that Aponte was carrying a small Louis Vuitton duffel bag with him.
Moments later, a TSA agent watched as Aponte tried to cleared another door, by swiping his airport work ID and then entering a PIN number onto a keypad.
Somehow, the agent lost track of Aponte.
And TSA officials waited until 45 minutes after Aponte's security breach to call Port Authority cops.
Police were finally alerted at 7:20 p.m. -- 18 minutes before his flight was scheduled to take off.
It wasn't enough time for cops to locate the suspect. The next thing anyone knew, the Orlando-bound Boeing 737 had left the airport with Aponte strapped in to seat 3B.
Aponte never cleared airport metal detectors, and his hand baggage was never searched, said sources.
Cops picked him up when his plane got to Orlando -- two and a half hours later.
via Jacquie T
Arrested him for what, exactly? He's an authorized airport employee, who used his badge to gain entrance to an area he is authorized to be in. Is it a crime to make TSA look like idiots?
Some TSA fan proposed that there ought to be two types of flights: ones with and ones without security. They supposed that the flights without security would be empty. Personally, I think they'd be packed full. I'd far rather show up an hour later at the airport, skip the stupidity and walk onto my plane. You?
a_random_guy at April 5, 2013 6:14 AM
Now, the astute observer might be able to read, right here in this blog, an assertion about "100% screening" and recognize it for the complete bullshit that it is -- Jeff.
Radwaste at April 5, 2013 6:28 AM
I too am mystified by the arrest. I'd love to konw what the charges are, and I suspect you're right: "Exposing the Uselessness of the TSA Gropper/Sluggards" is probably the secret real charge.
Miriam at April 5, 2013 6:55 AM
Why was he arrested? For making the TSA look like the boondoggle it is.
Amy Alkon at April 5, 2013 7:13 AM
this smells strongly of giving a person enough rope to hang themselves... this is a federal offense now, I'd imagine.
Perhaps some other point is being made.
SwissArmyD at April 5, 2013 9:56 AM
I wouldn't be surprised to find that there are laws that prohibit airport employees from accessing secure areas when they are not scheduled to work. Under these circumstances, he would be charged with trespassing.
Fayd at April 5, 2013 1:23 PM
In other airport news, parents of 2 small boys protested the violent PG-13 movie on their flight and wanted it turned off. They were allegedly polite about it, and the request denied. Next thing they know, they are landed in Chicago and met with Chicago cops, TSA and FBI agents for 5 minutes or so, then given tickets on another flight. With those poor, tired babies.
Those who still fly may soon be limited to viewing cartoons suitable for 4 year olds. Almost worse than the TSA grope. No flying for me.
bmused at April 5, 2013 4:04 PM
Aponte may or may not be in trouble with the feds, but he's in a hell of a lot of trouble with Delta. Airline employees "deadhead" all the time, but it has to be scheduled with company dispatch. The flight might or might not have had a jump seat available; if the pax seats had ended up full, wehere did he think he was going to sit? Delta could conceivably have the guy charged as a stowaway.
Cousin Dave at April 8, 2013 7:19 AM
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