Newark airport breach: US fails to identify man

05/01/2010
Newark airport breach: US fails to identify man
New York: US authorities today were unable to identify a passenger who breached security at the busy Newark International Airport as the disrupted terminal began operations after being locked down due to a security alert.

Terminal C, which was used by Continental Airlines, of the Newark airport in New Jersey locked down due to a security alert after a man walked to a secure area without being screened.

Thousands of passengers were stranded as chaos ensued after the security alert yesterday.

Following the incident the terminal was cleared of passengers and it also led to a second round of screening for all the passengers who were already in the secure area.

The authorities are still trying to identify the passenger who passed unchecked by going through the security video-tapes but the US media cited the TSA as saying that this type of situation has occurred previously when a person unknowingly walks through the security area without being checked properly.

The Newark airport officials confirmed that arrivals and departures from Terminal C have resumed on schedule early today.

"Things are back to normal," said Steve Coleman, a spokesman for the international airport that services New York and New Jersey.

Sari Koshetz, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) spokesperson, said a man was observed entering the sterile area of the airport from the exit lane, and "we immediately froze operations?.

"To be cautious, we wanted to make sure that everybody who gets on a plane tonight has been screened," Koshetz said.

"TSA immediately halted screening at Terminal C's security checkpoints and worked with law enforcement to pull airport surveillance tapes to identify the individual in question," a statement said yesterday. The man has still not been identified.

Earlier today, the TSA and the Obama administration announced that travellers from 14 nations, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia flying into the United States will face additional screening including full body pat downs before boarding.

Newark is one the three airports along with LaGuardia and John F Kennedy that serves New York City.

Source: PTI

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