TSA releases statement after CVG flight diverted to Atlanta after passenger found with box cutter
HEBRON, Ky. November 16 2022
The Transportation Security Administration has released a statement after a flight leaving Cincinnati headed for Tampa was diverted to Atlanta Friday after a passenger boarded with a box cutter.
The flight, Frontier Airlines flight 1761, was diverted after a witness observed seeing a passenger with a box cutter. Passengers say the man made threats to stab someone on board.
According to the TSA’s statement, the man – who has not been identified – had a temporary Ohio driver’s license and two backpacks. Officials say the box cutters were not identified by closed-circuit television imaging, but the man’s property was identified for further searching, where the box cutter was found
TSA said the visible blades were removed from the box cutter and the box cutter was provided back to the passenger, saying that is contrary to a standard operating procedure, which would include items being placed in checked bags or being voluntarily abandoned.
Authorities say the TSA employees involved have been “placed in a training status for remediation on CT image review and physical search procedures.” TSA adds “shift briefs” on the incident for all CVG and Kentucky employees.
The aircraft landed safely in Atlanta and the passenger in question was taken into custody by police officers, a Frontier spokesperson said.
The plane departed from CVG around 7:23 p.m. and landed in Atlanta just before 9 p.m., officials said.
All passengers were taken off the aircraft and are being put in a hotel overnight. WLWT received images from the incident from a witness on the plane.
The man was held by federal authorities in Atlanta.
TSA’s full statement can be read below or can be seen in this thread on Twitter.
On Friday, November 11, 2022, at approximately 5:30 p.m. EST, a male traveler approached the TSA checkpoint at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) with a ticket for a flight to Tampa International Airport (TPA). The traveler provided identification including a temporary Ohio drivers’ license and, once reviewed, proceeded to physical screening.
He presented two backpacks and submitted additional loose items into a bin for property screening. The property was screened using CT technology which creates a 3-D image that can be rotated 360 degrees for a thorough analysis.
Following review of the incident, including closed-circuit television (CCTV), the image review capabilities of the CT were not fully used.
The box cutters were not identified by the CT operator, but his property was identified for a further search. During the search, one box cutter was discovered.
The visible blades were removed from the box cutter and provided back to the passenger. This is contrary to standard operating procedure which requires these items to be placed in checked bags or voluntarily abandoned.
The backpack containing the other box cutter, and the remainder of the traveler’s property, was screened for explosives, but the box cutter was not discovered. The TSA employees involved in this incident have been placed in a training status for remediation on CT image review and physical search procedures.
TSA is also conducting shift briefs on the incident for all CVG and State of Kentucky employees, with reminders on proper disposition of box cutters and other prohibited items discovered during search. Statewide refresher training is being scheduled for CT image review, with emphasis on use of the image rotation and manipulation tools for optimal detection.
Nationally, TSA will issue a shift brief for all screening employees on this incident with reminders on use of the technology tools and prohibited items.
