Rogue Jeep on Philadelphia Airport runways causes terrorism scare

A runaway Jeep Grand Cherokee caused quite the disturbance in The Force Philadelphia on Thursday, March 1, when it broke through a chain-link fence and careened onto and across several active runways at Philadelphia International Airport.

Air traffic control contacted all incoming planes – including one U.S. Airways Express plane that was 10 seconds from landing on the now-occupied runway – that there would be a delay after their radar showed the vehicle on the runway. According to Philly police, the incident took place around 11:00 am, and foggy weather prevented pilots and crew from seeing the dark-colored Jeep, which had its headlights turned off.

Authorities chased the Jeep across three runways. Said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, "A man is in custody and being processed by Philly police. It appears he was high on something. There is no apparent nexus to terrorism."

High on something? Never would have guessed... In any case, the airport was shut down for 35 minutes out of "an abundance of caution," said Vicki Lupica, public information officer at Philadelphia's airport. The driver, Kenneth Richard Mazik, 24, of Chadsford, Pennsylvania, has been charged with driving under the influence, recklessly endangerment, resisting arrest, defiant trespass, criminal mischief, aggravated assault and simple assault.

Crazy Old Lady On Plane Goes Nuts When Police Ask Her To Leave! "Im 23 Years Old"

Peep the dude in the black shirt to the left of the screen secretly recording the incident.

"I'm Peeing myself!!"

Video: TSA investigating pilot for posting videos that show security flaws

He’s not in trouble with the airline, but his status as an official federal Flight Deck Officer is in mortal peril.

Three days after he posted a series of six video clips recorded with a cell phone camera at San Francisco International Airport, four federal air marshals and two sheriff’s deputies arrived at his house to confiscate his federally-issued firearm. The pilot recorded that event as well and provided all the video to News10.

At the same time as the federal marshals took the pilot’s gun, a deputy sheriff asked him to surrender his state-issued permit to carry a concealed weapon…

According to the letter, the review was directly related to the discovery by TSA staff of the YouTube videos. “The content and subject of these videos may have violated regulations concerning disclosure of sensitive security information,” the letter said.

The gun was issued to him by the feds pursuant to his status as an FDO, so presumably they’re required to take it back when an investigation is pending. Meanwhile, Drudge is splashing this with a banner headline about Napolitano punishing the guy for merely being “critical of TSA,” but I don’t know how he can be so sure. It depends on what’s in the clips, which have since been made private on YouTube. If he violated the regs by putting something on film that might inadvertently show a bad guy how to get through, thereby creating a security risk, what are they supposed to do while they’re (hopefully) figuring out a way to eliminate that risk? Shrug it off and hope that no one with bad intentions finds the clip? It’s not clear here either whether this guy approached anyone at TSA with his concerns first or whether he took care to make sure there was nothing in the vids that might expose any security holes. It reminds me a bit of Wikileaks, actually. Which is not to say that Drudge isn’t right — maybe this really is all about TSA trying to protect its image by silencing a whistleblower — but I wouldn’t jump to conclusions just because the agency is usually (very) unsympathetic.

Update: I’ve got a feeling that even a cautious semi-defense of TSA won’t play well with readers, so I’ve added a second clip below to smooth things over. It’s seasonal, too!

TSA Worker Avoids Prison After Stealing Travelers’ Laptops

(Photo by Tony Hanson)

From Ed Fischer

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A 37-year-old former Transportation Security Administration officer has been sentenced to three years’ probation for stealing laptop computers from passengers’ luggage at Philadelphia International Airport.

Federal prosecutor Arlene Fisk says defendant Troy Davis, upset about a demotion and lost pay, admitted stealing five laptops and a Sony Playstation.

Fisk says Davis actually used the surveillance equipment for his own greedy purpose.

“He put the luggage through special machines to see whether there was any explosives or anything of concern in the luggage,” she told KYW Newsradio. “When he saw that there was something of value in the luggage, he took out the computers or the games.”

Judge C. Darnell Jones says he considered the defendant’s military service — the US Navy veteran served in Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, and in Somalia. And Davis is still recovering from injuries from a near-fatal car wreck a year ago.

“Quite frankly,” Judge Jones told the defendant, “that is what kept you out of jail, because I was determined to put you there. As I indicated before, if you violate this court’s probation, I can assure you this will not keep you out.”

Davis is married with six children.

Reported by Tony Hanson, KYW Newsradio 1060.

The TSA Let a Loaded Gun Get on an Airplane

A man accidentally brought his loaded .40 caliber gun onto an airplane. He didn't know he had it. Neither did the TSA, who completely missed it during its scan and allowed that plane to fly. Apparently, this happens a lot.

Farid Seif, a Houston businessman, usually carries the weapon around for protection. He didn't realize he had kept the glock in his carry-on computer bag until he was mid-flight. Once he landed, he immediately reported the incident (and was stunned he was able to get it on board without hassle). That something like this happened should be scary in itself, but authorities tell ABC News says that that sort of incident isn't exactly uncommon:

Experts say every year since the September 11 attacks, federal agencies have conducted random, covert tests of airport security.

A person briefed on the latest tests tells ABC News the failure rate approaches 70 percent at some major airports. Two weeks ago, TSA's new director said every test gun, bomb part or knife got past screeners at some airports.

We put up with the TSA and their foolish methods in the name of security but if they're not keeping us secure, well shit, why do we put up with it? Here's the news report on the incident: