ATLANTA — A Channel 2 News investigation revealed more questions about security at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
The airport says about 1,400 badges were lost or stolen over about a two-year time period.
“I do think it’s a concern, I don’t think it’s a panic,” said John Nance, an ABC aviation security expert.“Anything that happens where we give somebody the opportunity to try to get into a secure area even if there is a number of things involved is a serious situation.
“It is outrageous, it is absolutely outrageous, it’s a security issue,” said Inta Sellick, a passenger.
“We take the loss and theft of employee badges very seriously. Badges are deactivated as soon as they are reported lost or stolen. Secured areas of the airport can only be accessed with a valid badge and PIN, and each badge has a photo of the employee on it. Due to these safeguards, we do not believe that lost or stolen badges pose a significant security threat to the airport,” said Reese McCranie, a spokesperson for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, in a statement emailed to Channel 2 Action News.
“Yeah, they probably do deactivate them as quickly as possible but I know for personal experience that may not be fast enough,” said another passenger.
“I think it is a concern but what we need to keep in mind is the multiple layers of security,” said Anthony Lemieux, a terrorism expert at Georgia State University.
Currently, Atlanta’s airport does not use biometric screening for employees, which would include fingerprint or eye checks.
“You have to do a cost-benefit analysis and see where that would fit in with the large range of security practices in place,” Lemieux said.
WSBTV
