Captain_Anonymous
November 19, 2000, 08:09 AM
What do you all think abou this?
Nov 18, 2000
A British newspaper today claims that one of its reporters posing as a pilot was able to enter restricted areas at London's Gatwick Airport and board a passenger jet at Birmingham International Airport. The claims are to be investigated by the Department of Transport.
The News of the World says their journalist obtained a valid security pass through the post from a company which organises business charter flights. The security pass was obtained for GBP£10 using a fictitious company name and false date and place of birth. The pass arrived within a fortnight.
The newspaper's reporter said he first walked into an outfitter used by British Airways and paid £140 for a full captain's uniform.
Wearing the uniform and armed with the pass, he was allowed through security checks and had access to unattended passenger aircraft at Birmingham International Airport. No checks were made on his identity after he said he was a freelance pilot, it is alleged.
The newspaper said he would have had plenty of time to commit acts of sabotage or plant explosive devices.
Commenting on what it called a "horrifying collapse in security," the newspaper said: "If a News of the World reporter with absolutely no flying experience can manage it, so could any Real IRA terrorist."
The undercover reporter used his real name but called himself a "Captain."
Saying the newspaper was alerted to lax security by concerned airport staff, the reporter then went to Birmingham Airport - the fourth busiest in the country.
His fake pass and uniform got him through security checks and his bag was not checked in an X-ray machine.
He walked into a British Airways hangar and on board one of the company's jets, where an engineer switched on the power for him.
Returning the same day, the journalist passed through security checks again and filmed the aircraft hangar he had access to.
Procedures were later tested at Gatwick Airport, south of London, where the reporter's bags were checked by an X-ray machine and he had to pass through a metal detector.
The false pass was checked by security staff - but he was waved through and spent 30 minutes wandering around parked aircraft belonging to a range of companies.
The News of the World said it had passed all the information onto the authorities and companies involved.
Birmingham International Airport said the pass gave the reporter "access to a controlled area where no passenger movements take place. Birmingham Airport complies with full DETR security compliance. Had the individual attempted to enter a restricted area where passenger movements take place, he would have been subjected to a full search to prevent any prohibited items getting through."
The Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) - which sets and assesses airport security standards - said they took the issue "extremely seriously."
"We trust the News of the World will hand over all the evidence they have immediately to help these inquiries fully", a spokesperson added.
British Airways said safety and security were their "absolute priority."
"We were very concerned to hear the allegations that it was possible to gain access to restricted areas at Gatwick and Birmingham with an airport ID gained under false pretences. We spoke immediately with airport security chiefs and to the DETR and will cooperate fully with any investigation into the incident," the airline said.
British Airports Authority (BAA), which is responsible for airside security at Gatwick, said it was "satisfied" the reporter was properly screened.
British Airways pledged to co-operate with any investigation while Birmingham Airport officials said they complied fully with government security rules.
Members of Parliament whose constituencies cover the two airports were unhappy at the findings.
Labour's Estelle Morris, who represents Birmingham Yardley, said she was "very concerned" and called for a full investigation.
Laura Moffat, the Labour MP whose Crawley constituency covers Gatwick, said: "It is nothing short of a disgrace. Security at Gatwick should be reviewed immediately."
Nov 18, 2000
A British newspaper today claims that one of its reporters posing as a pilot was able to enter restricted areas at London's Gatwick Airport and board a passenger jet at Birmingham International Airport. The claims are to be investigated by the Department of Transport.
The News of the World says their journalist obtained a valid security pass through the post from a company which organises business charter flights. The security pass was obtained for GBP£10 using a fictitious company name and false date and place of birth. The pass arrived within a fortnight.
The newspaper's reporter said he first walked into an outfitter used by British Airways and paid £140 for a full captain's uniform.
Wearing the uniform and armed with the pass, he was allowed through security checks and had access to unattended passenger aircraft at Birmingham International Airport. No checks were made on his identity after he said he was a freelance pilot, it is alleged.
The newspaper said he would have had plenty of time to commit acts of sabotage or plant explosive devices.
Commenting on what it called a "horrifying collapse in security," the newspaper said: "If a News of the World reporter with absolutely no flying experience can manage it, so could any Real IRA terrorist."
The undercover reporter used his real name but called himself a "Captain."
Saying the newspaper was alerted to lax security by concerned airport staff, the reporter then went to Birmingham Airport - the fourth busiest in the country.
His fake pass and uniform got him through security checks and his bag was not checked in an X-ray machine.
He walked into a British Airways hangar and on board one of the company's jets, where an engineer switched on the power for him.
Returning the same day, the journalist passed through security checks again and filmed the aircraft hangar he had access to.
Procedures were later tested at Gatwick Airport, south of London, where the reporter's bags were checked by an X-ray machine and he had to pass through a metal detector.
The false pass was checked by security staff - but he was waved through and spent 30 minutes wandering around parked aircraft belonging to a range of companies.
The News of the World said it had passed all the information onto the authorities and companies involved.
Birmingham International Airport said the pass gave the reporter "access to a controlled area where no passenger movements take place. Birmingham Airport complies with full DETR security compliance. Had the individual attempted to enter a restricted area where passenger movements take place, he would have been subjected to a full search to prevent any prohibited items getting through."
The Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) - which sets and assesses airport security standards - said they took the issue "extremely seriously."
"We trust the News of the World will hand over all the evidence they have immediately to help these inquiries fully", a spokesperson added.
British Airways said safety and security were their "absolute priority."
"We were very concerned to hear the allegations that it was possible to gain access to restricted areas at Gatwick and Birmingham with an airport ID gained under false pretences. We spoke immediately with airport security chiefs and to the DETR and will cooperate fully with any investigation into the incident," the airline said.
British Airports Authority (BAA), which is responsible for airside security at Gatwick, said it was "satisfied" the reporter was properly screened.
British Airways pledged to co-operate with any investigation while Birmingham Airport officials said they complied fully with government security rules.
Members of Parliament whose constituencies cover the two airports were unhappy at the findings.
Labour's Estelle Morris, who represents Birmingham Yardley, said she was "very concerned" and called for a full investigation.
Laura Moffat, the Labour MP whose Crawley constituency covers Gatwick, said: "It is nothing short of a disgrace. Security at Gatwick should be reviewed immediately."