Replies

Now, let's get Argenbright and United Airlines into custody.

1. Nepalis are Buddhists, not Muslims.

2. How would making airport security drones Federal employees help anything?

Article can be subtitled "After CNN does background check, cops and FBI pick up perp to appear (finally) in front of judge.".

Gives me all sorts of confidence in the system.

WRAP:Man Arrested For Bringing Weapons To O'Hare; 7 Fired

12:53 ET
Dow Jones International News
(Copyright (c) 2001, Dow Jones & Company, Inc.)

CHICAGO (AP)--Seven private security workers at O'Hare International Airport were fired for allegedly allowing a man to pass through a security checkpoint with several knives and a stun gun in his carry-on luggage.

Subash Gurung, 27, of Chicago, was charged after he was arrested trying to board a United Airlines (UAL) flight to Omaha, Neb., Saturday night, said police spokesman Thomas Donegan.

He was charged with with unlawful use of a weapon and attempting to board an aircraft with weapons, both state misdemeanor charges.

After being released on bond on those charges early Sunday, he was rearrested late in the day by FBI agents and charged with a federal felony count of attempting to carry a weapon on an aircraft, said Randall Samborn, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in Chicago.

The seven security workers, including one supervisor, were fired Sunday for failing to detain Gurung after two folding knives were discovered in his pocket when he passed through a metal detector.

Seven other knives, a stun gun and a can of mace were not noticed by the workers when Gurung's bag went through an X-ray machine, according to Chicago Department of Aviation spokeswoman Monique Bond.

The Nepal-born Gurung had made it past the security checkpoint at O'Hare, but airline employees in the gate area searched his carry-on bag and found the knives and the Taser gun, Donegan said.

"Something obviously went seriously wrong here, and we're trying to find out if it's the employees' fault," Bond said. "If weapons were confiscated , he should never have been let through security."

United spokesman Joe Hopkins said Gurung was searched at the terminal gate as part of the airline's regular security procedures.

The fired workers worked for Atlanta-based Argenbright Security Inc., which operates the screening operations at United's terminal. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident.

Last month, the FAA and the Transportation Department announced an audit of the screeners employed by Argenbright, which operates at 14 airports. Officials alleged Argenbright has failed to adequately check employees' backgrounds.

Gurung is to appear in court Dec. 19.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires 05-11-01

1753GMT

Under the Senate bill these people would still be on the public payroll instead of looking for new jobs.

Wow! $1000 bail, which translates to $100! Finally, getting serious with terrorists...

sorry for the lack of formatting. Got in too big a hurry.

The defendant told police he is unemployed and is originally from Nepal. When he was released Sunday, he was told to appear in court Dec. 19 on the state charges.

If he's unemployed, how did he post bail? Himself, bail bondsman, other?

Wonderful. I'm flying through O'Hare next monday on my way to NYC. Better get to practicing my karate.

Subash Gurung

Is this an Irish name?? Maybe Italian??

Colfax said Gurung previously lived in an apartment at 1025 W. Hollywood Ave., where Ayub Ali Khan once lived. Khan has been detained by authorities as a material witness in the Sept. 11 attacks, but it is unclear whether he knew Gurung.

Buddhist or not, this is a coinkydink that requires serious looking into.

Yes Yes . . . Federalize the security workers . . . that way NO one will ever get FIRED for their screw-ups!!!

AHHHHHH, Thats Better!

A 27-year-old Chicago man was taken back into custody and is to appear today in U.S. District Court to face federal charges stemming from his weekend arrest for allegedly trying to bring nine knives and other weapons aboard an airliner at O’Hare International Airport, authorities said.

Subash Gurung already had been charged in state court with misdemeanor counts of unlawful use of a weapon, attempting to board an aircraft with dangerous weapons and carrying dangerous weapons after he was arrested just prior to boarding a United Airlines flight to Omaha, Neb., on Saturday night, officials said. He was released Sunday on $1,000 bail.

Gurung, a native of Nepal, is to appear in federal court this afternoon on a charge of attempting to carry a weapon on an aircraft, a felony, authorities said.

Four security workers at O’Hare have been fired and five more have been suspended pending an investigation into why they let Gurung past a security checkpoint after confiscating two folding knives from him, Monique Bond, spokeswoman for the Chicago Department of Aviation, said this morning.

Airline employees in the gate area searched Gurung’s carry-on bag and found seven more knives, a Taser stun gun and a can of Mace, police said. It is not known why Gurung was headed to Omaha.

“Something obviously went seriously wrong here, and we’re trying to find out if it’s the employees’ fault,’’ Bond said. “If weapons were confiscated, he should never have been let through security.’’

The incident is expected to energize the debate whether the federal government should take over security screening at the nation’s airports. The Senate has approved a measure that would make security screeners federal employees. The House version adopted Thursday increased federal oversight of the 28,000 screeners, but stopped short of federalizing them.

The nine security workers in the O’Hare incident were employees of Atlanta-based Argenbright Security Inc., the private company that runs United’s screening operations at O’Hare, Bond said.

The employees, including one supervisor, have had their airport security badges revoked, Bond said.

Officials of the city, United and the Federal Aviation Administration are continuing to investigate the incident, she said.

United spokesman Joe Hopkins wouldn’t say why Gurung was searched at the boarding gate but said it was part of the airline’s regular security procedures.

``The United employees did a great job of intercepting this guy with the weapons and preventing him from boarding the flight,’’ Hopkins said.

Last month, the FAA and the Transportation Department’s inspector general announced an audit of the screeners employed by Argenbright, which operates at 14 airports. Officials alleged Argenbright has failed to adequately check employees’ backgrounds.

Gurung was questioned by police and the FBI and released early Sunday. Chicago police and FBI officials conferred about Gurung’s arrest, but decided he couldn’t be charged with a federal crime because he didn’t board the airplane, a police spokesman said Sunday.

The defendant told police he is unemployed and is originally from Nepal. When he was released Sunday, he was told to appear in court Dec. 19 on the state charges.

Gurung recently moved back to Chicago with his brother, Sushil, from Minnesota, said Adam Colfax, superintendent for the apartment building in the 5700 block of North Kenmore Avenue where the Gurung brothers lived until a year ago.

Colfax said Gurung previously lived in an apartment at 1025 W. Hollywood Ave., where Ayub Ali Khan once lived. Khan has been detained by authorities as a material witness in the Sept. 11 attacks, but it is unclear whether he knew Gurung.

Tribune staff reporters Tom McCann and Sean D. Hamill and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

AHHHHHH, Thats Better!

A 27-year-old Chicago man was taken back into custody and is to appear today in U.S. District Court to face federal charges stemming from his weekend arrest for allegedly trying to bring nine knives and other weapons aboard an airliner at O’Hare International Airport, authorities said.

Subash Gurung already had been charged in state court with misdemeanor counts of unlawful use of a weapon, attempting to board an aircraft with dangerous weapons and carrying dangerous weapons after he was arrested just prior to boarding a United Airlines flight to Omaha, Neb., on Saturday night, officials said. He was released Sunday on $1,000 bail.

Gurung, a native of Nepal, is to appear in federal court this afternoon on a charge of attempting to carry a weapon on an aircraft, a felony, authorities said.

Four security workers at O’Hare have been fired and five more have been suspended pending an investigation into why they let Gurung past a security checkpoint after confiscating two folding knives from him, Monique Bond, spokeswoman for the Chicago Department of Aviation, said this morning.

Airline employees in the gate area searched Gurung’s carry-on bag and found seven more knives, a Taser stun gun and a can of Mace, police said. It is not known why Gurung was headed to Omaha.

“Something obviously went seriously wrong here, and we’re trying to find out if it’s the employees’ fault,’’ Bond said. “If weapons were confiscated, he should never have been let through security.’’

The incident is expected to energize the debate whether the federal government should take over security screening at the nation’s airports. The Senate has approved a measure that would make security screeners federal employees. The House version adopted Thursday increased federal oversight of the 28,000 screeners, but stopped short of federalizing them.

The nine security workers in the O’Hare incident were employees of Atlanta-based Argenbright Security Inc., the private company that runs United’s screening operations at O’Hare, Bond said.

The employees, including one supervisor, have had their airport security badges revoked, Bond said.

Officials of the city, United and the Federal Aviation Administration are continuing to investigate the incident, she said.

United spokesman Joe Hopkins wouldn’t say why Gurung was searched at the boarding gate but said it was part of the airline’s regular security procedures.

``The United employees did a great job of intercepting this guy with the weapons and preventing him from boarding the flight,’’ Hopkins said.

Last month, the FAA and the Transportation Department’s inspector general announced an audit of the screeners employed by Argenbright, which operates at 14 airports. Officials alleged Argenbright has failed to adequately check employees’ backgrounds.

Gurung was questioned by police and the FBI and released early Sunday. Chicago police and FBI officials conferred about Gurung’s arrest, but decided he couldn’t be charged with a federal crime because he didn’t board the airplane, a police spokesman said Sunday.

The defendant told police he is unemployed and is originally from Nepal. When he was released Sunday, he was told to appear in court Dec. 19 on the state charges.

Gurung recently moved back to Chicago with his brother, Sushil, from Minnesota, said Adam Colfax, superintendent for the apartment building in the 5700 block of North Kenmore Avenue where the Gurung brothers lived until a year ago.

Colfax said Gurung previously lived in an apartment at 1025 W. Hollywood Ave., where Ayub Ali Khan once lived. Khan has been detained by authorities as a material witness in the Sept. 11 attacks, but it is unclear whether he knew Gurung.

Tribune staff reporters Tom McCann and Sean D. Hamill and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Didn't Jimmy Carter cancel and/or suspend all Iranian passports and Visas during the Iranian crisis? Why can't we do something like that now.

I would have never thought I would ever agree with Jimmy Carter on anything but he did it and no one uttered a word..

Didn't Jimmy Carter cancel and/or suspend all Iranian passports and Visas during the Iranian crisis? Why can't we do something like that now.

I would have never thought I would ever agree with Jimmy Carter on anything but he did it and no one uttered a word..

Throw the book at him. Then hold a press conference telling everyone that you are throwing the book at anyone who pulls crap like this.

Does anyone else here think that the FBI made the call to initially release him so that they could follow/monitor him and see if he led them to something else.

Why is it that the media seems to miss it?

"Now, let's get Argenbright and United Airlines into custody."

United Airlines employess are the ones who cought the guy and would not let him board. Just exactly how is it Uniteds fault? Argonbright is probably, (I don't know for sure, but have experience w/companys who go after government contracts) a minority owned security company who has given the various local governments that operate these airports such low bids for security services that they don't have the money for proper training, or to hire decent employees. The real solution would be for each airline to provide it's own security. Believe me they do not want their own planes highjacked. Federalizing it would a step in the wrong direction. Security would be worse not better.

Funny thing is I just flew from Chicago to Omaha on United Airlines a week before 9/11. I will admit that the workers at O'Hare totally incompetent. You could bring a bazooka through security and they wouldn't realize it.

The workers are minorities who have little care for their jobs and seem more interested in going out and partying, they are young, some seem in late teens early twenties. To federalize these goons would be a huge mistake. They are lousy workers, and to federalize them would make it harder to fire them. I say send them to work at McDonalds.