Sunday, July 11, 2004 - Page updated at 12:00 a.m.
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The Times collected 100 media reports of airport-security breaches since fall 2002, when TSA screeners took over. Screeners say that's a fraction of the incidents, and most are never disclosed.
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View breaches by state:
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Texas
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| Airport |
Breach description |
| Austin-Bergstrom Int'l Airport, Austin |
A screener saw what he thought was a handgun while X-raying of a carry-on bag. The screener changed his mind and allowed the passenger and bag through the checkpoint. Another screener became concerned and decided the carry-on bag should be examined. But the passenger had already walked away. Officials evacuated the concourse. The passenger and bag were identified during rescreening. The bag was searched and a replica handgun was discovered. [May 2004]
Source: Airport Security Report
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| Dallas/Fort Worth Int'l Airport |
Security staff working in the baggage-claim area saw a man walk through a revolving exit door and enter a secure concourse area. TSA evacuated three terminals and searched the area. Some aircraft still on the ground were evacuated and searched. About a dozen aircraft left the airport before they were notified of the search. Officials notified other airports to reverse screen flights arriving from Dallas. The man was not found. [4/05/2003]
Source: Airport Security Report
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| Dallas/Fort Worth Int'l Airport |
A Pennsylvania woman discovered she had accidentally left a pocketknife in her purse after clearing a security checkpoint at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, security and airline officials said. [June 2004]
Source: Dallas Morning News
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| Dallas/Fort Worth Int'l Airport |
A man carrying a laptop computer cleared security and headed into the terminal. Three minutes later, a machine that detects trace explosives showed a positive reading for Semtex, a volatile plastic explosive. The man's laptop, which initially cleared the machine, was the last item tested. Two screeners checked the machine and verified the second result. A search for the passenger proved fruitless. Forty-five minutes later, all planes and three of four terminals were evacuated. The passenger and his laptop were never found. [1/09/2003]
Source: The Dallas Morning News
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| El Paso Int'l Airport |
A TSA screener supposedly saw a suspicious item -- later determined to be contraband -- during a checkpoint screening. But the TSA screener lost track of the item, and it was never found. The east concourse was evacuated for two hours. [12/01/2002]
Source: Airport Security Report
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| George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston |
Officials said a man went through one of the security checkpoints about 4 p.m. without stopping. Three terminals were closed for about 30 minutes. Security officials located the man and determined he was not a threat. [1/30/2003]
Source: Airport Security Report
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