Passenger with gun slips past TSA during US government shutdown
A passenger has managed to make it through a US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint and onto a Delta Air Lines flight with a gun.
The passenger managed to fly from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport where he was met by Japanese authorities upon landing, according to TSA.
The incident occurred during the US government shutdown, which has resulted in roughly 800,000 federal employees, including TSA security officers, working without pay.
TSA has since denied the incident had anything to do with the shutdown, which entered its 25th day today and is now the longest in history.
“TSA has determined standard procedures were not followed and a passenger did, in fact, pass through a standard screening TSA checkpoint with a firearm,” the agency said according to the Washington Post.
“TSA has held those responsible appropriately accountable.
“There was not a staffing issue as some are speculating or alluding to in their articles.
“In fact, the national callout percentages were exactly the same for Wed. 1/2/19 and Wed. 1/3/18 (when there was no shutdown) — 5 per cent.”
Delta told the Post the incident occurred on flight DL 295 on January 2 and the airline disclosed the offence to TSA as soon as the passenger reported carrying the firearm.
TSA screeners stop passengers carrying a reported 4,000 firearms at checkpoints in 2017 alone, according to the Post.
The government shutdown began on December 22 after President Trump and Congress disagreed over 5.8 billion on funding over the US-Mexico border wall.
Miami International Airport was forced to close one of its concourses for half the day over the weekend, out of concerns they would be short on employees to operate security checkpoints.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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