By
Lisa Fletcher,
Jose Miguel,
Chris Kline
ABC15.com
Click the play button on the video window to the right to see the story
A new interim security director has been named at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
Michael Aguillar takes over airport security immediately, as announced in a news conference at Sky Harbor late Tuesday.
Aguillar was previously federal security director at San Diego's airport.
Aguillar is taking over interim security duties while Sky Harbor's security director is on administrative leave and TSA officials investigate major security gaps exposed last week in an ABC15 Investigation.
Posted July 24, 2007, 4 p.m.
TSA officials are meeting in the Valley to discuss what additional changes need to be made to keep everyone safe as they fly in and out of airports nationwide.
Here at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, some changes are already in place as a result of an ABC15 Investigation that exposed gaping holes in security over the weekend.
TSA officials said on Monday they would immediately start manning all security checkpoints on a 24/7 basis, requiring overnight employees who had previously slid through security without screening to now face full screening.
TSA officials said those changes would be in place indefinitely.
When pressed about whether or not our hidden cameras would find any workers walking through checkpoints unscreened, their response was, "you are not going to catch concourse workers going through the checkpoint at Sky Harbor with their belongings not going through the security process."
Posted July 23, 2007
As a result of an ABC15 Investigation, Transportation Security Administration administrator Kip Hawley says his department is now reviewing security procedures at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.
The TSA has placed the Federal Security Director at Sky Harbor on administrative leave.
The TSA also says it will resume 24-hour screening of airport employees immediately tonight at all airport security checkpoints, while procedures are under review.
Click here to read the original ABC15 Investigation from July 20
Transportation Security Administration statement from July 23TSA and the airport are reviewing security procedures at Phoenix/Sky Harbor International Airport during hours that the security checkpoint is not in operation. Pending the review, TSA and the airport have implemented several changes to ensure that security procedures at the airport are in compliance with national requirements concerning screening employees with access to concourses and other secure areas beyond the security checkpoint.
Effective today all employees entering the concourse area at Phoenix Sky Harbor will be screened by the Transportation Security Administration 24/7. While initial indications are that the airport was in compliance with local TSA agreements, a joint, thorough review of all security procedures at Phoenix is underway. During this review, the federal security director at Phoenix is on administrative leave. A senior TSA official has assumed interim FSD responsibility at Phoenix Sky Harbor. There is no indication that passengers were endangered or that there is a current security vulnerability.
TSA requires that people working in concourses, as well as goods sold in the so-called “sterile area,” are screened before entering those concourses. The concourse area of most major airports either remains secure 24/7 or they are inspected before the checkpoint opens each morning.
Amy Kudwa
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Transportation Security Administration
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Statement from July 23
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has always complied with all federal security policies and has not violated any Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations. At Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon’s request, the TSA has implemented the following changes to checkpoint security procedures at Phoenix Sky Harbor.
Effective today all employees entering the concourse area through the checkpoints at Phoenix Sky Harbor will be screened by the TSA 24/7. In addition, the City has increased police presence at the checkpoints.
The TSA Federal Security Director at Phoenix has been placed on administrative leave. A senior TSA official has assumed interim responsibility as the TSA Federal Security Director at Phoenix Sky Harbor.
The TSA is reviewing airport security policies across the country.
For comment on how the TSA manages the security checkpoints, please contact the TSA at 877-642-6794.
Stay with ABC15.com for updates.
