FBI Fingers North Carolina College Student | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-04.29.24

Airborne-NextGen-04.30.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.01.24 Airborne-AffordableFlyers--05.02.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.03.24

Sun, Oct 19, 2003

FBI Fingers North Carolina College Student

Believed To Have Left Contraband On SWA Flights

"I'd love to speak to all of this. I have a ton of stuff I'd like to say, but now is not the time. I have to work with government before I work with the media."

That statement came from 20-year-old Nathaniel Heatwole, a student at Guiford College in North Carolina, after he was questioned by the FBI Friday. He's believed to be responsible for leaving plastic bags with boxcutter knives, clay (to simulate plastic explosives) and bleach (to simulate dangerous chemicals) on at least two Southwest 737s.

The items were discovered Thursday night in New Orleans (LA) and Houston (TX).

Southwest said in a statement that the items seemed to have been "intended to simulate a threat." The notes in both bags "indicated the items were intended to challenge Transportation Security Administration checkpoint security procedures."

A government official went a little further. "The note basically said, to paraphrase, that while the TSA has done a good job improving airport security, there are some major areas of concern -- I was able to get these items through and the American people need to know," the senior official said.

"The note did single out TSA by name."

Heatwole did confirm to the Greensboro News and Record that he'd been questioned and then released by the FBI Friday. "They were pretty quick. I wasn't surprised."

"It doesn't appear to be a terrorist event," FBI Director Robert Mueller told reporters during in Houston Friday. "There were no explosives, there is no imminent threat."

But the discovery of the items in Houston and New Orleans did prompt the TSA to order all passenger aircraft checked within 24 hours. By Saturday afternoon, airlines had inspected more than 7,000 planes in the civil fleet. There's no indication that any other items were found.

Paul Rancatore, deputy chairman of the security committee for American Airlines' pilots union, described the searches as routine and not very detailed. "It's kind of a walk-through. They're just looking for things that are obvious. There's no removing of panels, no dogs."

Scorn For TSA

Passengers experienced slight delays as the searches were conducted. When told why, not many were terribly surprised.

The TSA employees act no different than the ones before them," said Rebecca Mackert, a sales representative from Columbus (OH), as she waited at Denver International Airport to meet up with her husband. "They speak a little more English, but they are still watching TVs and talking to each other."

Congressman John Mica (R-FL), chairman of the House aviation subcommittee, said the whole thing demonstrates how all employees with access to aircraft and whatever they bring on board should be thoroughly screened. He also said TSA needs improved technology to screen for explosives and banned objects.

"We need to have TSA get its act together and put in place the adequate training and technology to deal with the threat," said Mica.

FMI: www.tsa.gov

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (05.01.24): Say Altitude

Say Altitude Used by ATC to ascertain an aircraft's specific altitude/flight level. When the aircraft is climbing or descending, the pilot should state the indicated altitude round>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (05.01.24)

Aero Linx: European Air Law Association (EALA) EALA was established in 1988 with the aim to promote the study of European air law and to provide an open forum for those with an int>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: Korean War Hero Twice Reborn

From 2023 (YouTube Version): The Life, Death, Life, Death, and Life of a Glorious Warbird In 1981, business-owner Jim Tobul and his father purchased a Chance-Vought F4U Corsair. Mo>[...]

Airborne 04.29.24: EAA B-25 Rides, Textron 2024, G700 Deliveries

Also: USCG Retires MH-65 Dolphins, Irish Aviation Authority, NATCA Warns FAA, Diamond DA42 AD This summer, history enthusiasts will have a unique opportunity to experience World Wa>[...]

Airborne Affordable Flyers 05.02.24: Bobby Bailey, SPRG Report Cards, Skydive!

Also: WACO Kitchen Bails, French SportPlane Mfr to FL, Dynon-Advance Flight Systems, Innovation Preview Bobby Bailey, a bit of a fixture in sport aviation circles for his work with>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2024 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC