Airport Insecurity: LAX Screeners Fail 75% Of Bomb-Detection Tests

The LA Times is reporting that security officials at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) missed 75% of fake explosives in a series of 70 tests. What makes it further embarrassing is that LAX screeners are given four hours of security training each week, with the final hour concentrating specifically on detecting explosive devices.

To their credit, Nico Melendez, spokesman for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), says that the tests were conducted in 2006 and that the data should be considered old. However I can’t imagine that the situation has improved much over the past year. As a frequent business traveler who flies through airports around the country, I must say that LAX does have one of the most expedient security lines, especially given the size of the airport.

If you really think about it, we are lucky that there haven’t been any additional incidents since the horrific attacks on 9/11. I don’t think any American will concede that we’re doing all we can in terms of airport security. That being said, it’s a fine-line between strong security and excessive police-state like security.

In any event, let’s hope the TSA can improve on this figure, for yours, mine and everybody else’s sake. Our lives just might depend on it.