After yesterday’s report that undercover government agents were able to sneak mock explosives and weapons past Transportation Security Administration checkpoints at airports in 95% of tests, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson is making some changes: He’s reassigned the acting administrator for the TSA and says he’s directed the agency to revise screening procedures “to address specific vulnerabilities identified” in the undercover operation. [More]
transportation security administration
Homeland Security Secretary Reassigns TSA Head, Tells Agency To Revise Airport Security Procedures
By 6.2.15
Report: TSA Agents Failed 67 Out Of 70 Undercover Tests
By 6.1.15
UPDATE: Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson has since reassigned the head of TSA and directed the agency to address the vulnerabilities identified in the report. [More]
Even $100,000 Diamond Encrusted Watches Can End Up At The TSA Lost & Found
By 5.8.15
We can’t help but be curious about the person who managed to forget he or she was wearing a $100,000 diamond encrusted Cartier watch and walk away from a security checkpoint that much lighter. Yes, that is a thing that can happen. [TSA on Instagram] [More]
Report: Stick Of TSA Dynamite Used In Training Exercise Accidentally Left In LAX Museum Plane For 4 Days
By 5.1.15
When you make a mess, you’ve got to clean up your toys. It’s a lesson many of us learned as kids, and one that a Los Angeles Airport law enforcement officials says police slipped up on after a stick of live dynamite used in a training exercise was left behind near the airport museum for four days. [More]
Two TSA Screeners Fired For Allegedly Working Out System To Grope Attractive Male Passengers
By 4.14.15
When travelers are going through any airport security checkpoint, there’s an expectation that yes, the experience might be annoying, but that at least Transportation Security Administration screeners are going to behave professionally. A new report out of Denver says that expectation was not upheld by two screeners accused of working out how to tweak the system so that one worker could grope the genitals of attractive male travelers. [More]
TSA Pocketed $675K Last Year Thanks To Your Loose Change
By 4.7.15
All those pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters we leave behind while dashing through airport security certainly add up. In fact, the Transportation Security Administration pocketed almost $675,000 last year because we were in too big a rush to pick up our loose change. [More]
TSA Busts Passenger Allegedly Trying To Fly With Bear Paws In His Luggage
By 3.23.15
We’ve heard many a tale of travelers accused of trying to move things they shouldn’t through the air in their luggage, attempts that are often thwarted by the Transportation Security Administration’s airport checkpoints. But while we’re used to hearing about concealed weapons or live wildlife, officials say one traveler allegedly upped the “what not to pack” ante by toting bear paws and other parts in his bags. [More]
Man Arrested After TSA Finds 200 Credit Cards Hidden In Duffel Bag
By 3.11.15
The Transportation Security Administration keeps a long list of items travelers aren’t permitted to fly with including guns, knives, daggers, and box cutters. While the agency doesn’t explicitly tell consumers they can’t bring along stolen merchandise, like say 200 credit cards, if agents find the pilfered items you’ll likely be arrested. Just ask a New York man who suffered that very fate earlier this week. [More]
The “Serial Stowaway” Strikes Again: Woman Hitches A Ride To Florida, Poses As Resort Guest
By 2.10.15
Police in Florida say a 62-year-old woman who’s been caught not once, but twice stowing away aboard a plane she definitely didn’t have a boarding pass to board or ticket to fly on has done it again. This time, police say the 63-year-old woman slipped aboard a flight in Minnesota bound for Florida, and impersonated a hotel guest once she got there for extra measure. [More]
TSA: 2,212 Firearms Found In Carry-Ons Last Year, And Most Were Loaded
By 1.23.15
Although the average traveler should know by now that flying with guns in your carry-on bag is not going to fly with the Transportation Security Administration, the number of people trying to bring firearms through airport security is going up every year, the agency says in a report today. [More]
TSA Stepping Up Random Searches Amid New Concerns Over Terrorism
By 1.13.15
You might notice an uptick in the amount of random searches going on at airport gates around the country soon, as the Transportation Security Administration says it’s increasing security measures over recent terrorism incidents. [More]
Delta Employee Arrested After Allegedly Helping To Smuggle Guns On Flight
By 12.23.14
Perhaps the Transportation Security Administration’s recent reminder that guns aren’t permitted in carry-on bags should have explicitly stated that this rule also applies to airline workers. But we doubt that would have stopped a Delta baggage handler from allegedly smuggling more than 100 guns onto flights with the help of a former co-worker.
[More]
Reminder: TSA Has Magic Machines That Will Find Gun Parts Hidden In A PlayStation 2
By 12.18.14
This just in: X-ray machines used by the Transportation Security Administration have the power to see through plastic — yes, even the plastic used in gaming consoles! — and will be able to detect the presence of things that should not be in your carry-on bag. One traveler recently foiled by the TSA apparently thought all the camouflage needed to hide gun parts was a Playstation 2. [More]
Traveler Gets Luggage Back From Airport’s Lost & Found 20 Years After Plane Trip
By 12.18.14
We’ve all been there — the airline has lost your luggage and it’s probably never going to show up again. But maybe if you wait 20 years, your missing property will find its way back to you. [More]
Traveler Arrested For Allegedly Slamming Bag Into Elderly TSA Agent During Carry-On Dispute
By 12.3.14
Listen, we’re all looking for a little wiggle room when it comes to increasingly more cramped commercial flights, but when airport workers tell you something isn’t gonna fit as a carry-on, that is not the time to turn up the rage. Logan Airport officials say a man was arrested yesterday at a security checkpoint after allegedly slamming his too-large-to-carry-on backpack into a 74-year-old Transportation Security Administration agent. [More]
Let’s All Be Grateful Not To Be Standing In A Mile-Long Airport Security Line Right Now
By 12.1.14
The turkey might be off the table, the stuffing has been all stuffed into bellies and the pumpkin pie plate is likely bare.Thanksgiving is over, but there’s still time to give thanks, and be grateful that we’re not standing in an airport security line that’s a literal mile long. [More]
TSA Would Like To Remind Everyone Flying For The Holidays That You Can’t Bring Guns In Your Carry-On
By 11.24.14
After a record year finding guns in travelers’ carry-on bags at the nation’s airports, the Transportation Security Administration wants to take a second to remind everyone flying for the holidays that weapons need to be in your checked baggage and declared to authorities. [More]
Boston TSA Agents Find Dozens Of Credit Cards Under Different Names Stuffed Inside Teddy Bear
By 11.21.14
Stuffed animals serve a simple purpose: To be cute and cuddly. As such, they’re imbued with a sort of innocence, so far as inanimate object can be, which is perhaps why someone thought no one would notice if a sweet little teddy bear was stuffed chock full of what could be stolen credit cards. [More]
