WCBS News in New York in reporting two stories of very serious security problems at area airports. Problems that in a post 9/11 world should probably not be happening at any airport.

The first security breach happened at JFK and involves a missing radioactive device that arrived on a passenger flight. The device called a Minatron is used in oil exploaration. The 4 foot long device was shipped via DHL Air Express to the oil company Schlumberger for repairs. The device disapeared and has been missing since October 6, 2005.

WCBS interviewed Dr. Edwin Lyman Who said that radioactive isotopes in the minatron could be dangerous if ingested or inhaled in large quantities. Neither Dr. Lyman nor WCBS stated if the minatron contained sufficient amounts of radioactive material to be dangerous.

Dr. Lyman did add "The minatron is actually a triple threat. I would be greatly concerned if it falls into the wrong hands as a radiological weapon. To use the neutron beams to cause radiation injuries or deaths."

Stephen Harris, an official from Schlumberger disputed the dangers saying "The equipment does not require shielding and does not represent a danger."

According to WCBS the Nuclear Regulatory Commission also says the device is not dangerous, but notes that it did contain radioactive material when it was shipped.

That a radioactive device can go missing from an airport whether that device is dangerous or not, points to some very serious dangers in the level of security.

The second incident occurred at Newark Liberty Airport.

A Chevy Avalanche, a vehicle that in its smallest configuration has a payload capacity of 1,387 pounds, crashed through a security gate and into the secured area of the airfield. Security at the airport was unable to locate the vehicle for 45 minutes - only apprehending the driver when he tried to exit the secure area.

Fortunately for everyone, the driver was not a terrorist with a truckload of explosives but a drunk driver who took a wrong turn.

According to the WCBS report the TSA was not notified until 13 hours after the incident.

Given the fact that an unattended suitcase will prompt the evacuation of a terminal, if not the whole airport is shocking that no action was taken. If this had been a terrorist attack a good deal of the Newark Liberty passenger terminal would likely be rubble and we would be focusing our efforts on recovering bodies.

I think I'm going to develop a good case of aviophobia. Does anyone know what John Madden does with his used busses?

Posted by: Stephen Macklin at 09:38 AM | No Comments | Add Comment