TSA Investigates Pilot Who Exposed Security Flaws

stewart_maximus writes "The TSA is investigating a TSA deputized pilot who posted videos to YouTube pointing out security flaws. Flaws exposed include ground crew clearing security with just a card swipe while pilots have to go through metal detectors, and a 'medieval-looking rescue ax' being available on the flight deck. Three days after posting the video, 6 government officials arrived at his door to question him and confiscated his federal firearm (and his concealed weapon permit)."

Re:Pretty sure...

[a Flatbed Darkly]

As far as I know, "ax" is acceptable in American English, British English only permits "axe". I noticed TFA's inability to spell "hassled" in the headline far more. On an unrelated note, I wonder whether they would have pressed charges were the employee in question to have disclosed the vulnerabilities only to the TSA. It's been done in the context of comp security, so I wouldn't be surprised at all to see it happen to someone reporting on physical security.

Re:more leaks

[roman_mir]

Good slave.

Re:Take Note

[nettdata]

You might want to buy better textbooks.

Re:So i love the sarcastic comments

[1s44c]

What are you going to DO about this

I'm not go to America. Yeah I'd love to go there for sightseeing or a shopping trip but there is no way I want to be involved in any part of this security theater.

Re:more leaks

[jbengt]

Sorry to break it to you, but the Constitution doesn't give anyone rights, on US soil or not. It enumerates certain rights, it lists certain limitations and powers of the government, but, as the Declaration of Independence states, people are ". . . endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government . . . "
If you still don't believe it, see Amendment 9 : "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."

Re:What I don't understand...

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm an ex-TSO (airport security actor). No, we didn't get screened. The background check they do on us goes back 10 years. They want a paramilitary organization. They're very honest about that. They prefer to hire ex-military since they want people trained to not think but will follow commands. The problem is the work injures a lot of people and you're not paid much. The turn-over rate is high. That's what gets in people who aren't ex-military.

The smoking gun should do a section of mug shots from TSA employees arrested in uniform for stealing from passengers, getting DUIs and the like. That happens on a regular basis.