7NEWS Investigates: DIA Security Flaws
Aired July 16, 2001
Startling pictures from a 7NEWS hidden camera investigation showed that there are apparently troubling holes in security at Denver International Airport.
7NEWS did not enter or attempt to enter the airport illegally. But, anyone with an employee card can gain access to the most secure areas of DIA.
Inside the gates, there is a security guard who is supposed to check passes to make sure the picture on the card matches the person carrying it.
But 7NEWS' random check found that is simply not happening. Many employees would pass by the security guard, quickly showing photos that he can't possibly identify.
In one case, the pass holder's picture was not even visible, but he was not questioned.
On another day, a guard left his post to talk on the telephone, turning his back on anyone entering the gate. People simply walked by his vacant desk.
There is a metal detector at DIA for scanning employee bags, but it isn't used because the FAA doesn't require it.
Colorado congressman Mark Udall was clearly concerned with the results of the 7NEWS investigation.
"This concerns me. This is a significant situation," Udall said.
"I think it's easy to become complacent. We have the safest homeland in the world. We have very few incidents of terrorism, but we can't afford to be complacent," he said.
Three years ago, the same problems were observed at DIA's old employee gate -- apparently unconcerned guards, and a metal detector with dust on it.
After 7NEWS' stories, airport officials made major changes, including making sure each badge was checked, posting new warning signs, and the magnetometer was up and running. Clearly, the changes didn't last.
To illustrate the potential danger, 7NEWS Investigates filled three tin boxes with pennies. With the pennies inside, the boxes weighed about 4 pounds -- the three together are larger and heavier than many guns, and they could also represent 4 pounds of explosive.
Anyone with an employee pass -- including a would-be terrorist, or a disgruntled employee -- could place such items in the hold of a plane, up aircraft stairs into the cabin, in already checked baggage, or in any secure area under the terminal or concourses.
"I think it could be a threat. I really do. It seems when we looked at what happened two years ago, the response was to make sure everybody was checked visually, a face with a card. And it was implemented for a while it appears, and now we have backslid," Udall said.
What may cause more concern is that anyone with an employee card can bypass the employee gate entirely, simply by entering an elevator in DIA's passenger terminal. There is no one to check the picture ID or to check bags, and the elevator empties into the secure areas of the airport.
Anyone with a pass could go undetected, putting passengers and aircraft in jeopardy.
"If an amateur can do this, think about what somebody who has some professional training in terrorist camps in the Middle East could do. It concerns me greatly," Udall said.
The first time 7NEWS pointed out the security issue, officials responded immediately. But now, for some reason, neither the FAA or city officials seem to be concerned, and both declined an on-camera interview.
The FAA security chief at DIA said that the issue of the employee gate and elevator "are very narrow in relation to the whole security picture."
"We are not concerned. If we were concerned we would be doing something about it," he said.
Denver city officials said simply that security measures at DIA "exceed requirements imposed by the FAA."
This all may be part of a strategy to downplay the issue and tighten what seem to be loopholes. If so, it seems to be an odd strategy, 7NEWS reported.
In 1999, the government's own investigation found it could easily penetrate secure areas.
The inspector general tested the system and found that he could bypass lax security procedures and actually get on airplanes. The inspector general blamed, in part, airport officials for not implementing stricter procedures for controlling access.
The FAA security chief at DIA claims that things have tightened up since then.
On Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration decided that airport employees who breach security will pay a steep fine.
Behaviors that will be penalized include holding open security doors for co-workers, lending a security badge to a co-worker who left his or her badge at home and allowing friends to visit restricted areas. Employees who break the rules could be fined up to $11,000.
DIA Security
Three years ago, the same problems were observed at DIA's old employee gate -- apparently unconcerned guards, and a metal detector with dust on it.
After 7NEWS' stories, airport officials made major changes, including making sure each badge was checked, posting new warning signs, and the magnetometer was up and running. Clearly, the changes didn't last.
To illustrate the potential danger, 7NEWS Investigates filled three tin boxes with pennies. With the pennies inside, the boxes weighed about 4 pounds -- the three together are larger and heavier than many guns, and they could also represent 4 pounds of explosive.
Anyone with an employee pass -- including a would-be terrorist, or a disgruntled employee -- could place such items in the hold of a plane, up aircraft stairs into the cabin, in already checked baggage, or in any secure area under the terminal or concourses.
"I think it could be a threat. I really do. It seems when we looked at what happened two years ago, the response was to make sure everybody was checked visually, a face with a card. And it was implemented for a while it appears, and now we have backslid," Udall said.
What may cause more concern is that anyone with an employee card can bypass the employee gate entirely, simply by entering an elevator in DIA's passenger terminal. There is no one to check the picture ID or to check bags, and the elevator empties into the secure areas of the airport.
Anyone with a pass could go undetected, putting passengers and aircraft in jeopardy.
"If an amateur can do this, think about what somebody who has some professional training in terrorist camps in the Middle East could do. It concerns me greatly," Udall said.
The first time 7NEWS pointed out the security issue, officials responded immediately. But now, for some reason, neither the FAA or city officials seem to be concerned, and both declined an on-camera interview.
The FAA security chief at DIA said that the issue of the employee gate and elevator "are very narrow in relation to the whole security picture."
"We are not concerned. If we were concerned we would be doing something about it," he said.
Denver city officials said simply that security measures at DIA "exceed requirements imposed by the FAA."
This all may be part of a strategy to downplay the issue and tighten what seem to be loopholes. If so, it seems to be an odd strategy, 7NEWS reported.
In 1999, the government's own investigation found it could easily penetrate secure areas.
The inspector general tested the system and found that he could bypass lax security procedures and actually get on airplanes. The inspector general blamed, in part, airport officials for not implementing stricter procedures for controlling access.
The FAA security chief at DIA claims that things have tightened up since then.
On Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration decided that airport employees who breach security will pay a steep fine.
Behaviors that will be penalized include holding open security doors for co-workers, lending a security badge to a co-worker who left his or her badge at home and allowing friends to visit restricted areas. Employees who break the rules could be fined up to $11,000.
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