Yep, TSA is on top of things

[widgeon13]

TSA: Passenger carries ammo on plane in Milwaukee

By TODD RICHMOND , Associated Press
Last update: January 11, 2010 - 4:24 PM


MADISON, Wis. - A passenger inadvertently carried shotgun shells onto a Dallas-bound Midwest Airlines plane at Milwaukee's airport on Monday before he realized his mistake and alerted flight attendants, authorities said.

The man, who was not identified, did not mean any harm, saying he had forgotten that the ammunition was in his carryon bags when he boarded the flight, Transportation Security Administration spokesman Jim Fotenos said.

TSA agents turned the ammunition over to local police and sent the man back for another security search. They then allowed him to reboard and the plane left for Dallas later Monday.

"The passenger was interviewed and rescreened with negative findings," Fotenos said in a statement. "The passenger stated that he inadvertently brought the prohibited items onboard the plane and self-disclosed them when he realized they were in his possession."

Fotenos said the TSA is reviewing how the passenger got the ammunition through pre-boarding security searches. He declined to identify the man or comment further. TSA policy prohibits passengers from having firearms or ammunition in their carryon luggage.

Oak Creek, Wis. based-Midwest Airlines declined to comment.

The incident comes less than a week after a grand jury indicted Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab with trying to use chemical explosives stashed in his underwear to blow up a Northwest Airlines plane as it landed in Detroit on Christmas Day. Since then, the TSA and airlines have boosted security in airports in the U.S. and around the world.

Another passenger on Monday's Midwest Airlines flight 1669, Doug Bell, 50, of Hales Corners, Wis., said the plane was pushing back from the gate around 8 a.m. when the pilot came on the intercom and said there was a security problem and the plane had to return to the gate. The pilot said a passenger had notified a flight attendant he was a gun dealer and had shells in his bag, Bell said.

[slodave]

I did that once too. I didn't notice that I was carrying shells in a jacket pocket until I was half way through my trip in Italy. Whoops.

[GH85Carrera]

It is great to see the TSA working hard to keep us safe.

[widgeon13]

Wonder if Nappy is still convinced the system works??

[holtjv]

Our company has done a bit of analysis on how the tsa matches names--of course finding them severely lacking.
Also a couple short articles with the last comparing them to Barney Fife: We Can Fight the Next Underwear Bomber « Think3

Jack

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by slodave

I did that once too. I didn't notice that I was carrying shells in a jacket pocket until I was half way through my trip in Italy. Whoops.

If I had found what he found, I would've kept my mouth shut, and disposed of it at the first opportunity. Dumb, just dumb.

[Christien]

Originally Posted by red-beard

If I had found what he found, I would've kept my mouth shut, and disposed of it at the first opportunity. Dumb, just dumb.

Where? In the airplane bathroom? No way. Imagine if they got found somehow during the flight - think of the holdup you'd face before being allowed off the plane. They'd have to search everyone individually, completely. It'd be hours before you'd be let off.

I'd just leave them in my pocket and forget about it.

[1990C4S]

My son just flew 'south' the day after the 'big security scare', ie Boxing Day. He took a very large Sig aluminum water bottle on bottle on board as carry on. It was never inspected. It could have been full of anything...

Minimum wage contract labour inspectors.

[Tervuren]

I remember a time my brother walked into the security line with his handgun still in holster and not left in the car! He had a moment when the metal detector beeped off! He promptly dug into his pockets, pulled out a small knife he had also forgotten about and asked if he could go and put it back in his car. They never knew about the gun.

[herr_oberst]

Didn't this story happen a while back wher a guy forgot he was carrying, told TSA about it and was promptly kept from ever boarding his flight?

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by Christien

Where? In the airplane bathroom? No way. Imagine if they got found somehow during the flight - think of the holdup you'd face before being allowed off the plane. They'd have to search everyone individually, completely. It'd be hours before you'd be let off.

I'd just leave them in my pocket and forget about it.

I didn't say on the plane. I said at the first opportunity. If no connection, then I guess it shouldn't matter. But if you had to pass through security again, well, it would be best to dispose of them, somehow.

[Arizona_928]

I've been really hungover and gone through with a bunch of m-80's... I totally forgot I had them on me until I got home.. woops

[gt350mike]

Four or five years ago I had a customer that was really into military A/C so one day I brought a 30mm round (inert) for the guy to see what type of ammo was shot out of an AH-64. I totally forgot about the round being in my soft-case and I figured I had made at least three round trips with that 30mm before I took it out so I'm not surprised that they "overlooked" the shotgun shells.

At least the TSA is being consistent!

[slodave]

To add a little more to my above story... I was hand carrying the jacket that I had stuck the shells a couple of months prior. That jacket went through three X-ray machines, one here and two in Europe. It was a week after this that I put the jacket on and couldn't figure out why it was so heavy on one side. Once my heart started working again, I found the nearest dumpster and tossed them.

Yeah, if for some reason I had found them while in transit, I'd probably keep my mouth shut. It was a total accident on my part as well.

[strupgolf]

I can't wait for gov't helath care. It will be all so good.

[m21sniper]

Reminds me of new years eve, where i had to spend almost 2 hours at the state run liquor store getting a bottle of vodka.

Yes...TWO HOURS.

[Schumi]

I've accidentally taken a both a box of 22LR's and folding knife with a 5 inch blade on it on a plane. Didn't realize it was in my bag until I was emptying my stuff out at the hotel that night. This was only a few years ago and it went through the xray. Even if I had realized it while on the plane I would have just sat there and got off at the destination like normal. It wouldn't have mattered (and didn't).

And last time I flew (last summer) I noted that security seemed even more relaxed than that previous event. It took maybe 10 minutes to get through security at STL... no need to even arrive early.

The other silly thing is not having to be screened again once you get off a plane at a connecting airport. As long as you stay in the terminal, you're OK. I think people should be screened before every flight.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by strupgolf

i can't wait for gov't helath care. It will be all so good.

+100

[MRM]

When I prosecuted in Minneapolis before 9/11, we had jurisdiction over the Minneapolis airport. We had two or three people a week come through court being charged with carrying a handgun through security on the way into the airplane. All of them were incredulous that they were being charged with anything and most of them would get really pissy and say something like nobody cared when I carried it onto the plane on the way to Minneapolis. I'll bet loaded handguns have been carried onto planes a million times since 9/11 and no one has known.

[GH85Carrera]

I worked at a company that was a vendor for a special project at Tinker AFB. One of the other employees had to drive his pickup into the mile long main building for the jet engine repair facility. We were there all day and even had a lunch break. As we were leaving for the final time my co-worker turned pale. We drove out the gate and he said "oh man I just realized I have my rifle and several boxes of ammo behind the seat!" Fortunately for us this was before September 11th. They never searched the truck.