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
Airport security procedure wasn't followed after weapon remark
08:32 ET
Associated Press Newswires
Copyright 2001. The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A Philadelphia International Airport security screener did not follow proper procedure in alerting police about a pilot who made a remark about a weapon in his luggage, authorities said.
The screener, whose name was not released, let the pilot go through security clearances, then conferred with supervisors before alerting police, said Holly Baker, a spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration.
Authorities said the screener should have followed the man, then alerted police. The screener was employed by International Total Services Inc. of Cleveland, which supplies security screeners for US Airways.
It was unclear exactly what the pilot said after his nail clippers were confiscated at a checkpoint in the terminal, but it was taken seriously. Passengers were escorted off planes and hundreds were cleared from Terminal B about 1:30 p.m. Saturday as 40 police officers and National Guard members searched for the man.
Passengers were allowed back into the terminal about 90 minutes later.
Several flights were canceled, while others were delayed. Passengers had to stand in long lines and go through a second round of screening to get back inside.
Authorities were reviewing video security tapes to try to identify the pilot who is believed to work for US Airways.
How about firing the judge and/or the prosecutor that let Gurung go in the first place. Geez - the guy tries to get 8 or 9 weapons on an aircraft, he's middle eastern, and they let him go? Gross Incompetence
I'm suprised he was still around to be arrested the second time by the feds!!