Latest news with #aviationSecurity
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Plane headed to LAX diverted to GJ airport due to ‘unruly passenger'
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) – A Breeze Airways plane is being diverted to the Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT) Wednesday morning because of an 'unruly passenger,' according to the Grand Junction Police Department (GJPD). The individual, who was not named in the GJPD news release, was reportedly intoxicated, becoming agitated and yelling racist slurs at airline staff while waving a skateboard. The passenger was allegedly restrained twice but broke out of them each time. Although initial reports stated the suspect assaulted someone, GJPD said no one was struck and no injuries were reported. After landing, the passenger was taken into custody by GJPD at the direction of the FBI. He was transported to the Mesa County Detention Facility. The plane originally departed from the Norfolk International Airport in Virginia and was heading to Los Angeles International Airport before it was diverted. The investigation is ongoing. Any further information and charges will be released by the FBI. The aircraft was scheduled to depart from Grand Junction around 1:20 p.m., according to GJT's website. The Grand Junction Police and Fire departments responded to the incident. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
News.com.au
15-07-2025
- News.com.au
Fake name, shock arrest: Brisbane jetsetter escapes with fine
A Brisbane jetsetter has escaped with a $1700 fine for using a fake name to board a flight, after an alleged phone conversation about a bomb led to his dramatic arrest. Bernhard Freddy Roduner, 44, was found guilty of using false identification to obtain a flight ticket on Tuesday. He boarded a Brisbane-bound flight at Sydney Airport on January 14, and was allegedly overheard referring to a bomb during a phone conversation before takeoff. He was escorted off the Virgin Australia plane by police and was found to be travelling under a fake name. Officers searched the aircraft and confirmed there was no threat of a bomb. Mr Roduner earlier told the Daily Mail a woman sitting in a row in front of him may have misinterpreted him telling a colleague 'Tassie is the bomb', as he was returning from a trip in Tasmania visiting friends and regularly used the phrase. Mr Roduner also suggested his vaguely middle eastern appearance may have played a role in the incident. He was charged with one count of taking a constitutional flight with a ticket obtained with false identity information, one count of using false identification information at a constitutional airport and one count of threatening aviation security. The first charge has a maximum $16,500 fine and the third carries a potential one year prison sentence however Mr Roduner was fined only $1000 for the first and $700 for the second. Mr Roduner's earlier charge of threatening aviation staff was dismissed in June. He appeared in Downing Centre Local Court in March to plead not guilty to the offences. Mr Roduner said the fake name accusation was also the product of an unfortunate mix up, claiming a friend in Tasmania had booked his flight home via Sydney and their name was used on the ticket. It comes after Australian Federal Police Detective Superintendent Morgan Blunden said the AFP would not tolerate threats to aviation. 'Travelling on an aircraft should be a safe experience for passengers and airline crew alike,' Mr Blunden said. 'The AFP will continue to work closely with airline partners to deal with any behaviour that interferes with aviation security.'
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Is TSA checking immigration status?
Dozens of videos are making the rounds on TikTok, sparking concern that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is now checking passengers' immigration status at security checkpoints. As a former Transportation Security Officer (TSO) who has made it my duty to share accurate information with the traveling public through my travel newsletter, Gate Access, I want to set the record straight: TSA does not verify immigration status as part of its security screening responsibilities. The TSA was created in response to the 9/11 attacks, with a single, critical mission: to ensure the safety of the traveling public by detecting and deterring threats to aviation. TSA officers are trained to verify that a passenger's identification matches their boarding pass and that they pass through appropriate screening for prohibited items. That's it. The idea that TSA officers are suddenly acting as immigration enforcement officers is both inaccurate and misleading. It also fosters unnecessary fear and confusion, particularly among immigrant communities. It's not uncommon for travelers and some media outlets to confuse the roles of TSA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Both agencies operate at airports, but they serve very different functions. CBP handles immigration enforcement and customs, typically at international arrivals. TSA, by contrast, is focused solely on aviation security screening. Secure Flight, TSA's passenger vetting program, compares your booking information against federal watchlists; it doesn't check your immigration status. Officers are tasked with ensuring your ID is valid and that you match your reservation, nothing more. Of course, but they're extremely limited. The only time immigration status might become relevant is if a person presents a fraudulent passport or lacks valid identification and self-identifies as a foreign national. In such cases, TSA doesn't make determinations about immigration status; rather, the situation may be referred to other law enforcement agencies who are properly trained and authorized to handle such matters. While immigration checks are not part of TSA's job, officers do have an obligation to report illegal activity if it's encountered during screening. That could include illicit drugs, weapons or false documents. When something appears unlawful or unsafe, TSA may contact airport police or federal partners. But that's a far cry from acting as immigration officers. If a TSA officer encounters something concerning, such as a suspicious package or a counterfeit ID, they may escalate the issue to airport law enforcement or the appropriate federal authorities. That includes the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), if the situation warrants it. TSA doesn't take immigration enforcement into its own hands, nor is it equipped to do so. Behind the scenes, there has been a notable shift in how federal resources are being used to support immigration enforcement. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, including members of the Border Patrol, have increasingly been detailed to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with interior enforcement operations. A CBS News report confirmed that around 500 CBP personnel have been deployed to aid ICE in conducting arrests and deportations across the United States. This collaboration involves specialized CBP units, including the Office of Field Operations and Air & Marine Operations, which have been tasked with reinforcing joint efforts across jurisdictions. Additionally, within the broader Department of Homeland Security (DHS), federal employees, including TSA Federal Air Marshals, have been temporarily assigned to ICE for tasks like escorting detainees on removal flights. These deployments underscore a broader strategy by DHS to repurpose personnel and assets in support of interior immigration initiatives. While TSA's core responsibility remains aviation security, some of its specialized agents have been detailed to assist ICE under specific operational needs, reflecting the interconnected nature of DHS components while reaffirming that TSA's checkpoint duties do not include immigration enforcement. The bottom line? TSA is not checking your immigration status. That role belongs to other agencies. While TSA agents may call in legal personnel when they encounter something beyond their authority, this is standard protocol for any suspected criminal activity, not a targeted immigration crackdown.
