Explosives stolen at Phoenix Sky Harbor

Seems to me like the Newark incident involved a "test" bag which the agency then lost sight of. There could have been an emergency theoretically caused by someone discovering the fake bomb and not realizing it was a fake bomb. Doesn't seem too likely however, but not exactly a testament to TSA's skill back in 2004. One would hope they've improved since then.

 

One notes that they haven't. So far in the past year, they've missed handguns, various knives, and boxcutters - which were supposedly the impetus for creating the silly organization in the first place.

 

Ya got me. I wasn't involved with testing back then, so I can't comment on how these procedures were carried out. I do remember the incident (word gets around pretty quickly). The likelihood of these items being discovered by someone is very remote. In other words, it would experience the same fate as any checked bag that goes unclaimed. Still not a good thing to have happen, but hardly worth getting all panicked about any "potential" danger.

 

Pshaw, details, pesky details. Next thing you'll be saying is that they missed bomb parts.

 

I agree the proper call was not to ground the aircraft, but some of the same common sense about the realistic likelihood of a problem ought to extend to the balance of TSA's operations in lieu of the present Maginot line.

 

I'd hate to be the poor SOB who ran the test. Like I said, I don't know the nitty gritty details, but I'm certain that whatever happened, it wasn't pleasant.

 

Of course I realize you weren't there, and I don't expect any answer on this. I'm just trying to imagine that situation. I've never tested a bomb or bomb detection (doesn't generally fall in my line of work.) But it seems to me that if I wanted to make such test, I would go out, observe, take notes, maybe consult with somebody who'd worked there a long time, and then run a couple of test bags without dummy bombs just to see if you could actually track the bag? Now, maybe they did that and something came up they didn't anticipate and so no big deal. No point worrying about it now, as no harm came of it, but it does make one wonder a bit about the methodology here.

 

I always position a "catcher" whose sole job for the day is to remove the bag whenever it passes by on the conveyor belt. Hopefully, he'll never see it because I or one of the other evaluators already recovered it. Haven't missed yet.

 

Yes, probably got some re-training as per TSA nornal procedures when TSA employees screw up.

 

It probably didn't even involve a rolled-up newspaper or a spray bottle.