FAA Takes Action Against United Following Security Lapse

Washington - U.S. Department of Transportation secretary Norman Mineta yesterday directed the Federal Aviation Administration to begin an enforcement case against United Airlines, which he said could result in "a substantial fine" against the airline, for a security lapse at Chicago O'Hare International Airport over the weekend in which screeners failed to catch a would-be United passenger who had several knives and a stun gun in his carry-on baggage.

The screeners were employees of Argenbright Security, which handles the screening for United at the airport. Argenbright said the eight employees involved in the incident were suspended. The passenger, identified as Subash Garung, was arrested trying to board a flight from Chicago to Omaha. The Argenbright screeners failed to find the weapons in the man's carry-on bag and United employees found the items during a pre-boarding search.

Frank Kent, vice president of sales for United, said Garung was prevented from boarding the aircraft because of security measures put in place by United that track passengers from the airport parking lot through the gate. Those measures were developed with input from El Al security personnel.

"Our system worked," Kent said. "Because of the new procedures we put into place, United employees stopped him from entering the jetway, patted him down and searched his bag."

Mineta, clearly angered by the incident, said he will convene a meeting of airline CEOs next week "to make sure they understand our new posture" of zero tolerance for security breaches. Until Congress completes work on a pending aviation security bill, the airlines retain responsibility for passenger screening. "When I say zero tolerance, that means zero tolerance," Mineta said.

He added, "Still, problems remain. On Sunday, at the airport in Louisville, Ky., some passengers weren't screened at all. These failures are evidence to me that the airlines are still not making the necessary investment in security. Imagine if pilots got lost and engines wouldn't start. The airlines would take immediate action. I want them to commit the same resources and place the same importance on the security of their passengers."

Mineta ordered United to retrain of all of the screeners it uses at O'Hare under FAA supervision. Noting that Congress is about to reassign responsibility for security screening of passengers to the federal government, Mineta said that, "Until that transition is complete, we are going to hold airlines and their screening companies accountable."

Furthermore, FAA will hire additional security employees on a temporary basis to supplement the agency's security force in providing oversight and support at airport screening checkpoints. The new employees will be hired for periods not to exceed six months and will be deployed across the country. They will work under the direct supervision of FAA security personnel. The agency said it will recruit the new employees at job fairs scheduled this week in New York, Chicago, Atlanta and Dallas-Fort Worth. The agency said it wants the new employees to begin working within the next few weeks.