Passenger With Knife Causes Flight Delays at Dulles International

AP via TBO ^ | June 29,2002 | AP

[John W]

HERNDON, Va. (AP) - A passenger with a knife got through a security checkpoint at Dulles International Airport on Saturday, causing about 30 flights to be delayed as 5,000 passengers were re-screened. Some flights were delayed for as long as 2 1/2 hours, airport spokesman Tom Sullivan said.

A screener who spotted a suspicious object at about 7 p.m. didn't immediately report it to a supervisor, Sullivan said, allowing the passenger to get onto a mobile lounge that carries travelers from the main terminal to concourses.

Officials used security tapes to identify the people who passed through the checkpoint when the object was spotted. The people were re-screened and a three-inch knife was found in a backpack.

Airport police questioned the passenger, who was not identified. Sullivan said the passenger apparently wasn't aware of security regulations.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

*whew* That was a close shower!

[lizma]

mobile lounge????????????????

It's a fiken bus!!!! LOL!!

But I have noticed, for the most part, the gentlemen give their seats to the ladies. Not too shabby.

[supercat]

mobile lounge???????????????? It's a fiken bus!!!! LOL!!

The mobile lounges are a bit wider than a bus, and are capable of raising themselves so as to allow passengers to board airplanes directly. Still, given that they take awhile to go between the main and auxilliary terminals and don't hold 5,000 people, why couldn't the airport simply have arranged to have security personnel intercept passengers at the auxilliary terminal? Has airport management no idea how to partition an airport into security zones?

[brat]

"A screener who spotted a suspicious object at about 7 p.m. didn't immediately report it to a supervisor"

And they still have a job?

[Uni-Poster]

Maybe he had a break coming soon and did not want to ruin it.

[STARWISE]

I think he decided to take a shower first, and then while there, it dawned on him that maybe he had seen a knife in a passenger's bag. Hmmm .. showers are so enlightening.

[carenot]

Goodness gracious!

What ARE we to do.

Next they will take our kniting needles away!

[Wingy]

Sullivan said the passenger apparently wasn't aware of security regulations.

And what rock has this guy been under since 9-11? I last flew on 10-10-2001, and my partner was shocked that he couldn't carry his nail clippers, or pointy sissors. His excuse was that he hated the news and never watched. He was slightly aware that something had happened 9-11 because the scheduled soccer game was not televised that night.

Be well...

[Movemout]

..."causing about 30 flights to be delayed as 5,000 passengers were re-screened. Some flights were delayed for as long as 2 1/2 hours, airport spokesman Tom Sullivan said. "

All this for a three inch blade? We are such a bunch of wussies. We have conceded our quality of life to terrorists with little reason. Arm the pilots and an idiot with a samurai sword is at a clear disadvantage.

[LIBERTARIAN JOE]

Gov't employee... it could have been an anti-aircraft missle and he'd still have a job

[ofMagog]

I can't take my knitting needles?

[marktwain]

A knife? This is so rediculous. It wasn't the box cutters, it was the stupid victim compliance policy. No one pays any attention to that any more. The victim compliance policy is dead, dead, dead. There is no reason not to let passengers carry pocket knives.

This security policy is so stupid that anyone with brains can see it. Highjacking with boxcutters, knives, ore knitting needles will never again be allowed by the passengers or crew, so this is just an excuse to get people used to these stupid, intrusive searches, and to promote the idea that everyone must be defenseless.

[Bernard]

Is this one of the new, improved security people? What could they have been thinking, and is this person still on the payroll?

[Movemout]

"This security policy is so stupid that anyone with brains can see it. Highjacking with boxcutters, knives, ore knitting needles will never again be allowed by the passengers or crew, so this is just an excuse to get people used to these stupid, intrusive searches, and to promote the idea that everyone must be defenseless. "

I agree with your statement in its entirety. The many policies that have been implemented are in the category of "arm waving." This gives the illusion that we are doing something while really doing nothing. It is typical beauracratic feelgoodism. Style always reigns over substance in the world of government policy.