SFO Baggage Screeners Claim Security Breaches Covered Up By Private Company

MILLBRAE (KCBS) - Employees for the private company responsible for handling baggage screening at San Francisco International Airport claim the company is covering up security breaches and retaliating against workers.

That claim was being made by some employees, who were quoted in a report by the S.F. Examiner as saying that bags identified by X-Ray machines as "possible threats" are being loaded onto planes without secondary inspection, so that the company can maintain an on-time performance record.

Six screeners who work for Covenant Aviation Security have gone on the record with their allegations, though in all, 137 screeners are said to have signed a letter complaining to management about the purported practice - according to the Examiner report.

KCBS' Holly Quan Reports:

The Transportation Security Administration was said to be investigating the complaints, and SFO brass maintains such alleged breaches are not common. Officials for the TSA and SFO both also point out there there have been no documented incidents that support claims that questionable luggage is being loaded onto planes.

"It's 100% safe at the airport," stressed SFO spokesman Mike McCarron. "We have the best systems in place, we have great procedures. It's a system that is very safe and I have no problem at all bringing my own family through there. To me, it's the gold standard."

SFO is the largest airport in the country with private baggage screeners instead of ones hired by the TSA.

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