TSA allows JFK passengers to bypass security checkpoint

Feb 21, 2017

On Monday, eleven passengers at the JFK Airport went unscreened after Transportation Security Administration agents left an area unsupervised, allowing the passengers, three of whom set off the metal detector, to proceed through into the airport without the proper security measures.

There was no one in the area to do secondary screenings or pat-downs or to operate the X-ray or magnetometer. But what’s even more telling is the fact that the TSA did not notify police about this frightening breach, instead spending two hours sending its own agents through the airport in an attempt to find the eleven passengers.

“The TSA tried to mitigate the situation by sending their screeners through the terminal in violation of all the protocols,” a source said. “The protocol says law enforcement is immediately notified.”

The TSA has since said in a statement that it is reviewing the incident.

“Early reports indicate three passengers did not receive required secondary screening after alarming the walk-through detector,” the agency said. “All personal carry-on bags received required screening.”

As of late Monday, eight of the passengers remained unidentified, according to a Port Authority official, who said, “Port Authority Police are continuing to assist federal authorities in efforts to identify and locate the other eight passengers.”