Some Checked Bags Loaded On Airplanes Without Proper Inspection

TSA announced late last week that it has proposed the removal of more than 30 Honolulu International Airport (HNL) TSA employees following an extensive investigation into allegations of improper screening of checked baggage. “TSA holds its workforce to the highest ethical standards and we will not tolerate employees who in any way compromise the security of the traveling public,” said TSA Administrator John Pistole. “We have taken appropriate action through our newly established Office of Professional Responsibility and are committed to ensuring our high security standards are upheld in Hawaii and throughout the country.”

TSA Administrator John Pistole

As announced earlier this year, TSA placed several officers in non-security related roles pending the outcome of the internal investigation. The investigation determined that some checked baggage during one shift, at one airport location was not properly screened, impacting a limited number of flights each day during the last few months of 2010.

TSA has taken the necessary steps to ensure every bag has been screened properly at HNL since the agency identified the issue. TSA routinely tests security operations to ensure that proper protocols are being followed, and investigates any indication of misconduct. TSA also utilizes a number of checks to ensure bags are being screened properly including the use of CCTV, random inspections, covert tests, as well as peer and management oversight.

TSA management-level staff and National Deployment Force officers have been temporarily assigned to HNL to augment the current staff and continue to ensure that a high level of security operations continues. An effort will commence to hire local permanent replacements in the coming weeks.

Stanford Miyamoto, currently the Deputy Area Director, has been named Acting Federal Security Director.

Meanwhile, an ANN reader in Honolulu said in an e-mail that TSA was making things "painful" at the Honolulu airport as late as Sunday night, subjecting all passengers to screening by backscatter scanning devices and causing what he called "massive lines" at security.

FMI: www.tsa.gov