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Video shows the cause of Newark Airport shutdown - a couple in love
On Sunday, thousands of passengers ended up stuck at Newark airport for several hours, forced to evacuate the terminal, go through security again, and wait for the many flight delays and disruptions that happened as a result.
Some passengers tried to make the best of the situation. Many probably expressed frustration with the TSA employee who allowed a mystery man to walk the wrong way through a security checkpoint. And others may have wondered who the man was who caused them to suffer through the ordeal.
Was he a terrorist checking out the security system? Was he a man who made an Innocent mistake? No, as the just-released video footage of the incident suggests, he was a just a guy in love, looking for a few more minutes with his sweetheart. On the video below, you can see him hanging out by the security desk. He's asked to move and does so, but when the guard leaves his post just a few seconds later, the guy takes that opportunity to duck under the rope and join his lady friend.
Ah, love. Cute, right? No. Not even a little. As a result of this guy breaking the law, and of the TSA employee's failure to do his job, thousands of people were needlessly evacuated from the terminal. Time and money were wasted. And a few hundred people probably missed important connections or meetings, or at least had their vacation get off to a really bad start.
This guy wasn't a terrorist (just an idiot), but the next person who tries and succeeds in getting past security could be. More than just frustrating travelers going through Newark on Sunday, the incident exposed just how insufficient TSA security is. What good are X-ray scanners and full-body pat-downs when a guy can simply breeze past an empty guard desk? It looks like our biggest threat to security may not be underpants bombs, but rather the lax attitudes of some employees within the TSA.
The TSA employee has been placed on administrative leave. The man who slipped past security has not been identified.
This guy wasn't a terrorist (just an idiot), but the next person who tries and succeeds in getting past security could be. More than just frustrating travelers going through Newark on Sunday, the incident exposed just how insufficient TSA security is. What good are X-ray scanners and full-body pat-downs when a guy can simply breeze past an empty guard desk? It looks like our biggest threat to security may not be underpants bombs, but rather the lax attitudes of some employees within the TSA.
The TSA employee has been placed on administrative leave. The man who slipped past security has not been identified.
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Filed under: North America, United States, Airports, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 16)
Noel Freedman Jan 8th 2010 2:09PM
Well, there we have it: When the suduction goes up the production goes down.
NRegals Jan 8th 2010 7:50PM
How does the media get the video so fast? Do they get contacted immediately when there's a breech in security?
Dalton Jan 8th 2010 5:52PM
The act of the man going under a rope and kissing his girlfriend good-bye is not a big deal in itself. However, love being as great as it is, it should not scramble whats left of anyone's brain to be able to make reasonable choices, such as breaching security in an airport, which is going to obviously cause OTHER domino effect problems, which it did. People were stranded, irritated, missed meeting, vacations. The man who kissed his girlfriend, you are sweet, however, your not the brightest bulb. TSA is stupid, and the man breaching security was also stupid. End of story.
Karen Jan 9th 2010 1:53PM
WE ASSume it was just a kiss......couldnt it be a ploy....woman hide drugs in babies strollers and diapers......he needs to be indentified and interviewed!!!
Rick Jan 8th 2010 7:36PM
The guy is a complete bonehead....he needs to be found and prosecuted...especially after what almost happened on the delta flight.
How many people missed connecting flights, etc? what did this cost$$ people?
idiot...idiot...idiot.
Kathy Jan 8th 2010 8:24PM
This guy and his girlfriend are selfish people. She was there waiting for him to sneak through. They cost many innocent people inconvenience and delays, and probably money for some of them. They ought to be punished. I'm sure a lot of the people they inconvenienced would like to give them an earful.
Maybe just outing them would be sufficient for that purpose, but they also clearly showed how easy it would be to pose as a couple and get through security without even getting their hands slapped.
jeets Jan 13th 2010 1:37AM
America run amok. Much ado about nothing. Soon everything we do or think will be a crime. Just like the kid at recess getting tossed from school for aiming a finger gun and yelling, "pow, pow". I guess it is illegal to play cops and robbers.
jim Jan 8th 2010 2:14PM
That moron in love should be found, prosecuted and made to pay for the cost of the rescreening plus a $1,000,000 fine. What a selfish idiot.
sieben13 Jan 8th 2010 3:34PM
They will make a movie, bring him on the various TV stations, that's what they do in america
Pain Jan 8th 2010 3:43PM
Your an idiot!
CommonSense Jan 8th 2010 3:37PM
Where are the secure doors to seal-off the passage way?
KATIE Jan 8th 2010 4:31PM
give me a break!!! have none of you ever been in love? it makes you do crazy things and sometimes your heart thinks for you. when you're truly in love, there is an irresistible urge and it always seems so harmless. when did our society begin to value time and money so much more than genuine happiness? i think it's been the downfall of our country!
landers Jan 8th 2010 5:31PM
Are you serious, Katie? If you were driving a car and you saw your sweetie up ahead and the only thing that separated you was a child crossing the road, would you run over the child to get to your love? Umm, no. And the only reason I gave such a ridiculous example is because what you're suggesting is stupid, too. Love can make you do things, sure. But, to make you incapable to making reasonable decisions? To make you have NO responsibilty for your actions even when you knowingly break the law, compromise security and inconvenience thousands of people? I don't think so. I value love, too, but I'm not an idiot. Go back to la la land, lady.
Fred Jan 8th 2010 6:01PM
I think they should give him a medal. After all he did expose the Idiots running the show. It's about time they made them look like the morons they are.
Baku-chan Jan 9th 2010 12:09PM
Kate: Yeah, I think we should value the safety of millions of people over two people's happiness. If he had done the same thing and it later turned out that he was a terrorist sneaking bombs onto the plane or something, you'd be screaming about how stupid security was for not stopping him when he went to kiss his girlfriend.
John Jan 8th 2010 2:26PM
Oh, those heterosexuals!
Always a big production.
Franklin Porter Jan 8th 2010 3:17PM
What would you have done sweetheart?
MissBrookeBamBam Jan 8th 2010 5:55PM
EXACTLY. Straight people do stupid s*** all the time! They make out and basically dry hump in public. They hang all over each other and grab each other. But if a gay person did that, everyone flips out or says "Keep it in the bedroom."
I think everyone should "Keep it in the bedroom." It's disgusting when I go out and there's that one couple all over each other. It's awkward and obnoxious. No one needs to see that from ANYONE.
Bob Jan 8th 2010 2:27PM
OH MY, you mean to tell me that some one isnt doing there job the way that they should be doing it. In all honesty how many times while at work have you found the need to task avoid or have found it more appealing to do something other then what you should be doing?
All these idiotic people sitting there commenting on this man leaving his post for a reason that is unbeknown to the general public and probably for just reason. Until you form an opinion one way or the other you might want to know the cold hard facts.
Watching the news is not really news any more. They are trying to capture ratings, just like your regular ole prime time TV.
Joey Jan 8th 2010 3:26PM
Let's be real here. At Newark Airport you go through the security check points after you wait in long lines. Then you are set loose in a terminal full of restaurants, shops, and tons of places from which to take or buy the perfect weapon. This includes one of the best steak houses (including steak knives) in the area. So let's be real...a kiss is just a kiss. The security is a joke and false.