[The Case of the Woman Who Dodged TSA Checkpoints and Boarded a Flight to Paris Raising Alarms about Wider Aviation Security Problem
The recent incident of Svetlana Dali, a 57-year-old woman who dodged TSA checkpoints and boarded a flight from New York to Paris, has raised alarms about a wider aviation security problem. While Dali’s case is unusual, it is not an isolated incident, and the frequency of such breaches is higher than many might think.
While the reported cases are rare, they occur globally, according to Alexandra James, an analysis output manager at Osprey Flight Solutions, which analyzes security risks in the aviation sector. James has written a case study on stowaway situations. She believes that the security weakness lies in the layering of elements that comprise aviation security, where each element relies on the others to provide a complete security system.
One potential solution lies in electronic gate technology, which allows only one passenger to pass through at a time, requiring more federal investment. However, the question remains as to how Dali managed to board the plane, with Delta Air Lines confirming that she did not have a boarding pass and the airline stating it is “thoroughly addressing” the “deviation from standard procedures” that enabled her to board the plane without a boarding pass.
The airline’s review of its security infrastructure is currently underway, while the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is conducting its own investigation into the incident. TSA Administrator David P. Pekoske has suggested that installing electronic gate technology, which could integrate with the agency’s facial recognition systems at checkpoints, could be a solution, but it would require more federal investment.
Stowaways can come in various forms, including attempting to breach perimeter fences illegally or being smuggled inside the airport by someone else. In the case of Dali, she bypassed the security lane reserved for airline crew members and joined the standard TSA carry-on baggage screening line, making it past Delta Air Lines gate agents.
According to aviation security officials, the key to resolving these incidents lies in treating each passenger equally, regardless of demographics, and not relying on profiling. As James pointed out, “This incident demonstrates that possibly more needs to be done to raise awareness of the fact that profiling isn’t necessarily the most effective way of determining whether somebody’s a threat.”
The cases of Dali and other stowaways underscore the importance of aviation security protocols and the need for continued improvement, as well as the requirement for adequate investment in security measures. While these incidents are still exceedingly rare, they are a constant reminder of the importance of vigilance and the need for continued investment in security measures to protect the safety of passengers and the integrity of the air travel system.
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