URGENT: WILL A FOOD SERVICE HANDLER TAKE DOWN AN AIRLINER?

DFU ^ | 7-10-02 | Doug from Upland

[doug from upland]

Here is a teaser for a big story we at SSAF are investigating. SSAF website

SSAF president Nick Ashton has spoken with an official who is amazed that we even know of this problem. It is something that must be solved immediately.

Food handlers, we believe across the country, have access to aircraft without going through metal detectors. This has the potential for horrific consquences.

Food service workers, typically who do not make a great deal of money, are able to gain access to the airport without being inspected. They load the trucks with food and deliver it to the aircraft. How many of these people just got their jobs? How many are not citizens? What kind of background checks were done?

How difficult would it be for one of these workers to place a deadly device on an airplane? No once checks them.

Please check with your airport and ask about the food handlers. We would appreciate your feedback and will do a complete story as soon as possible. This issue is one which cannot wait!

I am going to repeat the slogan we use all the time at SSAF --- "If we can think it, they can do it!"

[doug from upland]

How about cleaning crews?

Come on folks, make that call to your airport and raise the issue.

[ladyinred]

This is outrageous doug!
This is one of the first things the airlines should have changed after 911.
All they care about is the bottom line, and this is just unacceptable!
BTW You were so right about the lack of security at the airports before people went to the boarding areas weren't you?

[Libertarianize the GOP]

.

[doug from upland]

It is outrageous. Unfortunately, we are new in this country at fighting terrorism. We have a lot to learn.

With intricate security measures, long delays, and expensive equipment, it amazes me that a $7 per hour employee is in a position to do the unthinkable. Please, call you own airport and demand an answer.

[doug from upland]

Heads up.

[doug from upland]

How many of you remember that the guy who loaded the canisters that took down a ValuJet into the Florida everglades was from Pakistan? I am not accusing him of anything, just noting it. How many non-Americans have access to the plane with going through security? How many obtained fake Visas?

[drjimmy]

Surely you can't be serious.

[doug from upland]

Yes, I am serious. An official whom I won't identify confirmed the problem tonight. It had originally been reported to me by another FReeper.

[Husker24]

Well I know one of those dried up sandwiches could kill a pilot if served without a drink.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

I posted something along these lines last September. Caterers pass through gates without being screened (at least, depending on Airport security levle). Caterers I knew had police rap sheets, records, felons. It's a concern. They hire them and don't do background checks, at least the ones I came across.

[Bogey78O]

Would an aerosol can in a microwave do lots of damage?

[Bernard Marx]

Since many of these jobs fall into the "affirmative action" category, this one has some nasty political overtones. It's been obvious to me that a minimum-wage aircraft cleaner probably planted the box cutters on the planes involved in 9-11. This is a glaringly obvious hole in the security system.

I used to own a small trucking company in the San Francisco Bay Area. I made deliveries to Alameda Naval Air Station and lots of other military facilities in the region. I used to watch NASA's U-2 being readied for flight at Ames as I drove free as a bird to make deliveries around Moffat Field. It occurred to me then that someone familiar to the gate guards could easily drive onto most of our military facilities or other sensitive places with an undiscovered A-bomb or high explosives in their truck.

Unfortunately, one of these days maybe somebody will.

[doug from upland]

Thanks for the info. What airport?

[doug from upland]

I suspect it would, but will have to ask Nick Ashton the extent of damage possible.

[ClancyJ]

Does this mean that no one checks the food being brought on? How easy to sprinkle white powder on all food and spread anthrax.

Looks like we need to speak out about this. What an outrage that with all the press, all the attention on airline security - they are so dumb or incompetent they do not even bother to think about the food handlers or the food.

[Sabertooth]

Unfortunately, we are new in this country at fighting terrorism. We have a lot to learn.

Rest assured, we're nicer and more compassionate than other terrorist-fighting nations...

They're so dreary and serious!

[FlyVet]

Caterers I knew had police rap sheets, records, felons. It's a concern. They hire them and don't do background checks, at least the ones I came across.

Had the same problem here at Tucson International Airport. The contractor that provided workers for security checks, (the scanners and carry-on bag checks) were ex-felons and other scurrilous characters. Last I remember the contractor was fired and replaced.

[browardchad]

How difficult would it be for one of these workers to place a deadly device on an airplane? No once checks them.

Miami Airport Workers Charged in Smuggling Scheme (3/22/02):

”Miami International, a critical hub for connections between the United States and South America, has been plagued by security lapses since a federal probe dubbed "Operation Ramp Rats" resulted in charges against airline and food service workers for smuggling drugs and weapons in August 1999.
U.S. agents arrested 58 American Airlines employees and airport food workers on charges that they used their security passes to gain access to planes to retrieve smuggled drugs.
A month after the initial "Ramp Rats" arrests, 15 "rogue baggage handlers" were arrested on similar charges at the airport.
In the latest conspiracy (March 2002) the airport workers used their security passes to board the jets and remove the drugs, in some instances cutting into the plastic paneling inside the cargo holds where wiring is hidden, prosecutors said.

As you can see from these incidents, Miami has made progress since 9/11 -- now only airport workers with security passes are smuggling drugs.

It's not mentioned in this report, but I remember seeing TV video of cocaine packages taped to the underside of a food service cart in one of the post-9/11 busts. (I guess they used the carts after they dug the packages out of the fuselage...)

[cyncooper]

I and my family just flew a week ago Monday (our first flight since 9/11)out of Tucson International Airport. Since we arrived a couple of hours early we watched out of the window as planes were prepped at the gates in our area.

We observed a SkyChef truck pull up to a plane to load the food. He stepped out of the truck and was "wanded" by security. Then the security guard accompanied the worker into the truck while the food was put on the plane.