Checks Ordered on Airport Restricted Area Workers

The Federal Aviation Administration, taking steps Wednesday to tighten airport security, ordered airlines, airports and airport contractors Wednesday to check the backgrounds of all employees hired after Nov. 1 who have access to restricted airport areas.

“Persons permitted unescorted access to airport restricted areas and passenger screening personnel are in positions where their actions can have a critical impact on the safety and security of the traveling public,” the agency said.

In a telegram to FAA regional directors and separate messages to the nation’s airlines, the agency said: “Recent occurrences have demonstrated the need for this limited action to be taken immediately.” Investigations are under way to determine how weapons were smuggled aboard a hijacked TWA jet in Athens last June and an EgyptAir jet last weekend.

Dec. 15 Deadline

The agency directed employers whose workers have access to restricted airport areas to draw up procedures by Dec. 15 for background checks, including references and employment histories for the preceding five years, for all new employees.

“It is necessary for all employers to assure that the background of such employees be checked to the extent necessary to assure that permitting them unescorted access to any areas on the airport controlled for security reasons is appropriate,” the FAA said.

One FAA official described the action as “another attempt to make the security network as tight as possible. These are vulnerable points. If you have people who are in secured areas that are not reliable, you have a danger there.”

Last month, the House Government Operations Committee recommended increased background security checks for people with access to restricted airport areas. The report also suggested further FAA study on the need for increased background checks of employees of private security firms that contract with airlines and airports to provide passenger and baggage screening services.

Thousands Have Access

“Literally thousands of people involved in baggage handling, catering, fuel supply, maintenance and ramp operations have access” to restricted airport areas, the committee report said.

In Los Angeles, Virginia Black, a spokesman for the city’s Airports Department, said 42,000 people work at Los Angeles International Airport. She estimated that several thousand people may have access to restricted areas there, including airline and airport personnel, food and baggage handlers and workers who service, clean and fuel airplanes.

“Many of the airlines here contract that out to another service,” she said.