The TSA Blog

Friday, December 9, 2011

TSA Week In Review: 5 Grenades “Grenading”

5 Grenades Grenading (EWR)

5 grenades “grenading” and a partridge in a pear tree! Not one, but 5 inert grenades were discovered in a passenger’s checked luggage at Newark (EWR). Read here and here why even inert grenades at the airport are a problem even though they can’t explode. In a somewhat related incident at LAX, an expended smoke grenade was found in a passenger’s carry-on bag.

I’m sure you’ve heard the “What’s In Your Wallet” commercials…Well, a frustrated passenger at Boston (BOS) stated he had a bomb in his wallet. The police ended up citing the passenger, so while there was no actual bomb in his wallet, there is now less cash…

Not counting all of the usual items our officers find, this week they also found stun guns, firearm components, ammunition, replica firearms, brass knuckles, a belt buckle knife, a brass kubotan containing a 2½-inch double-edged knife, switchblades, butterfly knives and batons.

Unfortunately these sorts of occurrences are all too frequent which is why we talk about these finds. Sure, it’s great to share the things that our officers are finding, but at the same time, each time we find a dangerous item, the throughput is slowed down and a passenger that likely had no ill intent ends up with a citation or in some cases is even arrested. This is a friendly reminder to please leave these items at home.

Just because we find a prohibited item on an individual does not mean they had bad intentions, that's for the law enforcement officer to decide. In many cases, people simply forgot they had these items in their bag. That’s why it’s important to double check your luggage before you get to the airport.

On the other hand, there are artfully concealed items... Artfully concealed means that the prohibited item was intentionally concealed with the intention of sneaking it through security:

Sword Cane (COS)

A 20” sword cane was discovered during X-ray screening at Colorado Springs (COS). The passenger said the cane was purchased for him by a relative and he wasn’t aware of the sword.

One could say a passenger was “foiled” after his knife was found in his carry-on bag inside a box wrapped in tinfoil at Columbus (CMH). The passenger actually admitted he was trying to conceal it from us.

Aluminum foil may protect you from aliens and mind rays, but it’s not going to hide anything from us in the X-ray.

Foiled Knife (DEN)

We’re looking for dangerous items and not booze, but miniature bottles of liquor were discovered in a passenger’s socks during screening with the body scanner at Denver (DEN). Hint – most miniature bottles of liquor are under 3.4 oz. and can be brought in your carry-on baggage as long as it’s in a baggy. No need to smuggle them…

Belt Buckle knife at Newark (EWR). It's a belt buckle. It's a knife. It's a belt buckle, it's a knife. and so on...

It's a knife. It's a Belt Buckle. (EWR)

Our officers found 25 loaded firearms and 4 unloaded firearms in carry-on baggage since I posted last Friday. Here’s a rundown of the 29 firearms our officers kept off of airplanes this week:

12/2: BTR – Loaded .40 - BNA- Loaded .40 w/ One Round Chambered - LAX - Loaded .40 w/ One Round Chambered - BZN – Loaded .380 - SJC – Loaded .38 - IND - Loaded .40 w/ One Round Chambered - RSW - Loaded .38 - CLE – Unloaded .38 - DFW – Loaded 9mm w/ One Round Chambered - MIA - Loaded 9mm w/ One Round Chambered
12/3: DEN – Loaded 9mm
12/4: DEN - Loaded 9mm - BNA – Unloaded .25 - MCO - Loaded .380 - MEM - Unloaded .38
12/5: No Firearms Found!
12/6: PDX – Loaded .380 - IND – Loaded .22 - AUS – Loaded .380 - DAL – Loaded .22 w/ One Round Chambered- FLL – Loaded 9mm
12/7: MCO – Loaded .22 - MDW – Loaded .357 - JAN – Loaded .40 - LIT – Loaded .380 w/ One Round Chambered
12/8: BNA - Loaded .380 w/ One Round Chambered - PDX – Loaded .22 - LAX – Unloaded .45 - TPA – Loaded .38 - TPA – Loaded .45

You can travel with your firearms in checked baggage, but they must first be declared to the airline. You can go here for more details on how to properly travel with your firearms.

We also look for explosives and bomb components as well, but thankfully those are extremely rare and we're happy to keep it that way.

Including checkpoint and checked baggage screening, TSA has 20 layers of security both visible and invisible to the public. Each one of these layers alone is capable of stopping a terrorist attack. In combination their security value is multiplied, creating a much stronger, formidable system. A terrorist who has to overcome multiple security layers in order to carry out an attack is more likely to be pre-empted, deterred, or to fail during the attempt.

Blogger Bob Burns

TSA Blog Team

If you’d like to comment on an unrelated topic you can do so in our Off Topic Comments post. You can also view our blog post archives or search our blog to find a related topic to comment in. If you have a travel related issue or question that needs an immediate answer, you can contact a Customer Support Manager at the airport you traveled, or will be traveling through by using Talk to TSA.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Screening of Elderly Passenger at JFK

You may have heard in the news about an elderly woman who is stating she was strip searched at New York's JFK airport by TSA officers. TSA contacted the passenger to apologize that she feels she had an unpleasant screening experience; however, TSA does not include strip searches in its protocols and a strip search did not occur in this case. We're currently gathering information and reviewing the screening of this passenger, but we wanted to share what we know so far.

A review of CCTV indicates the passenger opted out of advanced imaging technology and requested a pat-down. It is TSA’s policy that screening procedures are conducted in a manner that treats all passengers with dignity, respect and courtesy.

CCTV shows that the passenger arrived at the ticket counter at 12:19 p.m. for her 1 p.m. scheduled flight which left early at 12:50 p.m.

She entered the checkpoint line in a wheelchair, walker in hand.

The passenger opted out of advanced imaging technology screening, requested a pat-down and told the officers that she was wearing a back brace or support belt which required private screening.

Private screening was conducted by two female officers. The item was removed, rescreened, and the passenger was cleared for travel. Nothing unusual was depicted on the CCTV as the passenger and two female officers entered and exited the room. The wheelchair attendant assisted the passenger in departing the checkpoint area for the gate.

Terrorists remain focused on attacking transportation through tactics such as concealing explosives under clothing. Further, as evidenced by the Christmas Day 2009 attempted bombing, concealed anomalies under clothing must continue to be resolved and cleared as part of the screening process to ensure the item does not pose a threat to the safety of the traveling public. Terrorists and their targets may also range in age. Read here about a group of elderly men who were planning on using toxic ricin against U.S. citizens, U.S government and officials.

Blogger Bob Burns

TSA Blog Team

If you’d like to comment on an unrelated topic you can do so in our Off Topic Comments post. You can also view our blog post archives or search our blog to find a related topic to comment in. If you have a travel related issue or question that needs an immediate answer, you can contact a Customer Support Manager at the airport you traveled, or will be traveling through by using Talk to TSA.

Friday, December 2, 2011

TSA Week in Review: Smooth Travel This Holiday Season – Plus Machetes Too!

2 1/2" Blade From Walking Stick (ORD)

I’m back! I’ve been off on vacation, but have no fear, because I’m back in the cockpit and ready to navigate my cubicle through the blogosphere.

The busiest travel time of the year has passed and I have to say the data is impressive. We are pleased to report that screening operations during the Thanksgiving holiday at the nation’s airports went smoothly overall. With over 12.38 million people who traveled this Thanksgiving more than 99 percent of passenger’s screening experience took less than 20 min. We appreciate the partnership of the traveling public to make this a safe holiday travel season.

Now for the wacky stuff…

Machetes were found in two separate incidents at Philadelphia (PHL) and Los Angeles (LAX) with one of the blades measuring 14 ½ inches. I wasn’t aware of any overgrowth at PHL and LAX. Perhaps we should notify the grounds crew?

Grenade Found At GSP

In a fashion similar to turducken, an inert grenade was found stuffed in a sock that was stuffed in a shoe at Greenville (GSP). Read here and here why even inert grenades at the airport are a problem.

Not counting all of the usual items our officers find, this week they also found stun guns including one disguised as cell phone, brass knuckles, switchblades, a kubaton/knife combo, butterfly knives, firearm components, collapsible batons, throwing stars, a cat’s eye, an asp, a 7” military knife, a 6½-inch double sided dagger, pepper spray, ammunition, and a 3 1/8” double bladed knife.

Military Knife Found at BWI

Artfully Concealed Items: Artfully concealed means that the prohibited item was intentionally concealed with the intention of sneaking it through security: For example, I blogged about this artfully concealed item yesterday: A stun gun disguised as a smart phone.

A 2½-inch blade, manufactured as part of a walking stick, was detected during checkpoint screening at Chicago O’Hare (ORD)

Our officers found 23 loaded firearms in carry-on baggage since last Friday. (Not counting the unloaded ones we found). Here’s a rundown of the loaded weapons we kept off of airplanes this week:

11/27/2011: TSA Officer at ONT detects a loaded .40 pistol with a round in the chamber.
11/28/2011: TSA Officer at IAH detects a loaded .380 pistol with a round in the chamber.
11/28/2011: TSA Officer at EWR detects a loaded pistol.
11/28/2011: TSA Officer at RIC detects a loaded .38 pistol.
11/28/2011: TSA Officer at GPT detects a loaded .22 pistol.
11/29/2011: TSA Officer at ABI detects a loaded .380 pistol with a round in the chamber.
11/29/2011: TSA Officer at BNA detects a loaded .38 pistol with a round in the chamber.
11/29/2011: TSA Officer at TPA detects a loaded .22 pistol.
11/29/2011: TSA Officer at CRP detects a loaded .40 pistol.
11/29/2011: TSA Officer at SAT detects a loaded .380 pistol.
11/29/2011: TSA Officer at DFW detects a loaded .40 pistol.
11/30/2011: TSA Officer at GSP detects a loaded .38 pistol.
11/30/2011: TSA Officer at MCI detects a loaded .38 pistol with a round in the chamber.
11/30/2011: TSA Officer at AUS detects a loaded .38 pistol.
11/30/2011: TSA Officer at IAH detects a loaded .38 pistol.
11/30/2011: TSA Officer at ATL detects a loaded .38 pistol.
12/1/2011: TSA Officer at PWM detects a loaded 9mm pistol.
12/1/2011: TSA Officer at CMH detects a loaded .380 pistol with a round in the chamber.
12/1/2011: TSA Officer at CRW detects a loaded .380 pistol with a round in the chamber.
12/1/2011: TSA Officer at STL detects a loaded .380 pistol with a round in the chamber.
12/1/2011: TSA Officer at ACT detects a loaded pistol.
12/1/2011: TSA Officer at AUS detects a loaded .380 pistol.
12/1/2011: TSA Officer at DFW detects a loaded .380 pistol with a round in the chamber.

You can travel with your firearms in checked baggage, but they must first be declared to the airline. You can go here for more details on how to properly travel with your firearms.

We also look for explosives and bomb components as well, but thankfully those are extremely rare and we're happy to keep it that way.

Including checkpoint and checked baggage screening, TSA has 20 layers of security both visible and invisible to the public. Each one of these layers alone is capable of stopping a terrorist attack. In combination their security value is multiplied, creating a much stronger, formidable system. A terrorist who has to overcome multiple security layers in order to carry out an attack is more likely to be pre-empted, deterred, or to fail during the attempt.

Blogger Bob Burns

Thursday, December 1, 2011

There’s An App For That? Stun Gun Disguised As Smart Phone At LAX

Transportation Security Officers at LAX were “stunned” when they discovered a smart phone. Not just any smart phone… It was a cute little pink smartphone that gave a whole new meaning to “bad connection.” It was a stun gun.

Law enforcement authorities responded to the incident and allowed the passenger to continue on her flight, after surrendering the item to TSA.

Our officers see countless smart phones every day, but this one was literally meant to “connect" with someone. It’s just an example of what we know all too well. Everyday common household items aren’t always what they appear to be. It may seem mundane at times, but this is why we take a closer look at everything that’s going on the plane.

It’s important for passengers to check their bags prior to traveling. Even if a passenger has no ill intent, an item such as this one could result in a civil penalty or even an arrest. And we really don’t wish that on anybody. So let’s keep your record clean and our checkpoint lines short. Leave this stuff at home.

Great job LAX!

Blogger Bob Burns

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Happy 10th Birthday TSA

10 years… It’s hard to believe. I remember my 10^th birthday. I got an Atari 2600 Console with Space Invaders! I vaguely recall someone saying how good the graphics were compared to “Pong.” Those were the days…

I also remember when I started at TSA. I didn’t start on November 19^th, 2001 when TSA was created, but I did start shortly after in 2002 and was part of the team that Federalized Cincinnati’s CVG airport. We’ve come so far since then. I remember a very dedicated group of people who were very eager to learn and to protect their country. In many cases, people had left jobs that paid more money because of their desire to find a way to serve their country.

While security screening at airports wasn’t new, we were recreating it. Everything was a learning experience and we took every opportunity to improve upon procedures and the way things were done. That’s still going on today. We’ve gone from using technology from the 1970s to using state of the art equipment such as the body scanners. We still strive to find ways to strengthen and improve our procedures according to the latest intelligence as well as continue to do so in our commitment to keep the flying public safe.

Take a look at this post from last summer on all of the things we’ve accomplished since our inception. You can see just how far we’ve come and get an idea of how much further along we’ll be in the next 10 years.

Blogger Bob Burns