In the past year, there have been around 300 instances of individuals attempting to bypass various aspects of airport security to access secure areas at U.S. airports, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). While only a small number of these individuals were able to make it onto a plane, the exact number was not disclosed by the TSA. The majority of these incidents involved people trying to enter the secure area of the airport where passengers exit, or bypassing the TSA podium where agents check IDs but still going through security. Most of these instances were deemed as unintentional actions by the passengers, and TSA immediately investigates and takes corrective action in such cases.
One recent incident involved a 26-year-old man who managed to board a Delta plane at Salt Lake City Airport with a valid boarding pass on standby for a full flight. Security footage showed him taking photos of other passengers’ boarding passes, one of which he seemingly used to board another flight. He was removed from the plane before takeoff. In another incident in February, a woman boarded an American Airlines flight from Nashville to Los Angeles without a boarding pass, sneaking past the ID checkpoint but still going through security. The TSA considers it a security breach only when someone completely evades security screening, and both individuals were apprehended.
To prevent such security breaches, airports across the country are implementing new technology and updates at their exits to ensure people can only move in one direction. These measures have already been put in place in new terminals at Washington’s Reagan National Airport and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. The TSA is continuously working to enhance security measures and prevent unauthorized access to secure areas within airports. The agency is committed to investigating and addressing any breaches that occur, and ensuring the safety and security of passengers and airport personnel.
In conclusion, the TSA has reported approximately 300 incidents of individuals trying to bypass parts of airport security within the last year, with most cases being unintentional actions by passengers. Recent incidents include individuals boarding planes with invalid boarding passes or attempting to evade security screening. Airports are implementing new technology and updates to prevent unauthorized access to secure areas, with measures already in place at certain terminals. The TSA is focused on enhancing security measures and addressing any breaches to ensure the safety and security of airports and passengers.
