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A gun, a water bottle and a throwing star: An unusual TSA experiment

Nov. 23, 2015 - Atlanta - Airport employee Tony O'brien leads the line through security in a timed test to show how possession of prohibited items delays the line. TSA personnel demonstrated how they respond to prohibited items at security checkpoints in a session for the press using airport employees playing the part of passengers. The Transportation Security Administration is advising travelers to keep prohibited items out of their bags to keep security lines moving. At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, more than 130 people have been caught with guns at airport security checkpoints so far this year. Whenever a gun, explosive or other dangerous weapons are caught at checkpoints, TSA officers halt security screening in the lane and call Atlanta police to respond to the checkpoint. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM

Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi

Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi

Nov. 23, 2015 - Atlanta - Airport employee Tony O'brien leads the line through security in a timed test to show how possession of prohibited items delays the line. TSA personnel demonstrated how they respond to prohibited items at security checkpoints in a session for the press using airport employees playing the part of passengers. The Transportation Security Administration is advising travelers to keep prohibited items out of their bags to keep security lines moving. At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, more than 130 people have been caught with guns at airport security checkpoints so far this year. Whenever a gun, explosive or other dangerous weapons are caught at checkpoints, TSA officers halt security screening in the lane and call Atlanta police to respond to the checkpoint. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM
By
Nov 24, 2015

With long airport security lines expected for the holidays, the Transportation Security Administration is urging travelers to keep prohibited items out of their carry-on bags to keep the line moving.

Nov. 23, 2015 - Atlanta - Airport employee Tony O'brien leads the line through security in a timed test to show how possession of prohibited items delays the line. TSA personnel demonstrated how they respond to prohibited items at security checkpoints in a session for the press using airport employees playing the part of passengers. The Transportation Security Administration is advising travelers to keep prohibited items out of their bags to keep security lines moving. At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, more than 130 people have been caught with guns at airport security checkpoints so far this year. Whenever a gun, explosive or other dangerous weapons are caught at checkpoints, TSA officers halt security screening in the lane and call Atlanta police to respond to the checkpoint. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM

Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi

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Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi

TSA drove home the point with a demonstration at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, where half a million passengers are expected to pass through screening over the Thanksgiving holiday travel period.

ajc.com

Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi

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Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi

TSA set up a checkpoint with volunteer “passengers” who went through the line with no prohibited items. Then the same passengers went through again, including some with a gun, a throwing star and a bottle of water -- all prohibited items -- along with a laptop left in a bag.

To find out what happened, read the full story here.

About the Author

As business team lead, Kelly Yamanouchi edits and writes business stories. She graduated from Harvard and has a master's degree from Northwestern.

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