Security breach reported at McCarran

Keith Paul

Thursday, Dec. 27, 2001 | 9:35 a.m.

Two people rushed through a security gate at McCarran International Airport Christmas Day, prompting an evacuation and search of a terminal and delaying flights for about two hours, officials said.

The two people walked through the exit of the A/B gates checkpoint about 2 p.m. Tuesday, avoiding the metal detectors. The people apparently walked by an Argenbright Security worker without being noticed, officials said.

Another passenger saw the pair skip the security checkpoint and told other security workers, Hilarie Grey, an airport spokeswoman, said.

Metro Police, National Guard soldiers and airport security members cleared out the A and B gates and people who started boarding planes were evacuated while the gates were searched. Other gates were not affected.

"We shut down the terminal and screened everybody all over again," Lt. Al Salinas, head of Metro's airport section, said. "We saw the (security camera) video, and two people went through without being screened."

The airport was not crowded, as Christmas Day is not a very busy travel day. However, the passengers were delayed at least two hours while the terminals were searched and all of the passengers went through security checks again.

The two people were never located, but no weapons or explosives were found. Police and airport officials speculated the pair went through the exit ramp to avoid the line.

"I don't think there was anyone with ill intent, but when there is a security breach, the terminal is closed and a security sweep is done," Grey said.

Two people suspected of being the ones who bypassed the security checkpoint were questioned, but no arrests were made, Salinas said.

Most of the passengers understood the inconvenience of being rechecked after the security breach, he said.

"Some of the people were sitting in the bars when my officers went in and told them to put it down or down it," Salinas said. "They were looking at the officers like 'Are you serious?' When told them we were serious, everyone was fine and left."

Since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 airport security has been tightened. National Guard soldiers now patrol airports, and carry-on luggage is randomly searched.

Two weeks ago security screeners detected three men with guns in their carry-on baggage in separate incidents at the airport. All three men were arrested and charged with with carrying a concealed weapon.

Argenbright, a private security firm that provides security at about 40 percent of the nation's airports, has been providing security at McCarran for 12 years. Calls about Tuesday's breach to Argenbright officials at McCarran Airport and at the company's headquarters were not returned.

Argenbright has come under fire recently in other cities such as Austin, Texas, where National Guard soldiers patrolling the airport have reported a security screener falling asleep on the job and another stealing money from an elderly passenger.

Last year the company was fined $1 million after pleading guilty to charges of conducting inadequate training, testing and background checks on employees who staffed checkpoints at the Philadelphia airport from 1995 to 1998.