(AK) TSA agent lacks discretion with weapon on a flight, then argues about...

[spacemanspiff]

not being able to fall asleep or be served alcohol, per the airlines guidelines.

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/6384913p-6263597c.html

Agent's gun on flight raises brows, concerns
SECURITY: Firearm seen under TSA officer's jacket led to a "heated discussion" with attendant.
By DOUG O'HARRA
Anchorage Daily News
Published: April 16th, 2005
Last Modified: April 16th, 2005 at 03:46 AM

Anchorage-bound passengers on a flight from Seattle caught sight of a firearm under the jacket of a federal officer while he walked down the airliner's aisle on Friday afternoon, leading to a "heated discussion" between a flight attendant and the agent, said airline spokeswoman Caroline Boren.

Officials from the Transportation Security Administration and the Anchorage airport police met the flight when it landed at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. They confirmed that the TSA law enforcement officer was authorized to be armed on that flight while traveling to an assignment, according to Amy Von Walter, TSA spokeswoman in Virginia, and Anchorage airport spokeswoman Jennifer Payne.

"We are aware of the incident, and it's a TSA matter," added FBI special agent Eric Gonzales in Anchorage. "Based on what we know, the flight wasn't in danger."

The pilot contacted law enforcement in Anchorage after passengers reported the weapon to the attendant, who subsequently "had words" with the agent that went beyond the issue of the weapon getting seen, Boren said.

"Apparently, the TSA special agent commented on our policy (that) any special agent who's armed can't consume alcohol on the flight and can't go to sleep," she said. "It sounded like the conversation related to that policy."

The identity of the TSA agent, who is not stationed in Anchorage, was not released.

Corky Caldwell, federal security director for the TSA in Anchorage, said the Alaska Airlines pilot reported the presence of an armed agent but never mentioned anything about an argument over airline policies.

"I certainly would be concerned anytime that someone sees a weapon on a plane, but those are things that need to be investigated," Caldwell added. "If in fact the guy had a gun exposed, that doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Anytime anyone is authorized to carry a weapon on an aircraft, they should be very discreet."

TSA will investigate the incident, Von Walter said.

Alaska Flight 1 carried 120 passengers aboard a 737-700 aircraft, Boren said. "It was a full flight."

Daily News reporter Doug O'Harra can be reached at do'[email protected].

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[DRZinn]

Sounds like the flight attendant thought he was an air marshal. Sounds to me like he wasn't.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Anytime anyone is authorized to carry a weapon on an aircraft, they should be very discreet.

Why? So we don't frighten potential hijackers?

America would be a far safer, saner, more polite nation if every one of us saw law-abiding citizens openly, safely, and legally keeping and bearing arms every day.

 

[Warren]

"I'm the only one on this plane professional enough"....bang...."Damn."

 

[Vodka7]

Why? So we don't frighten potential hijackers?

Perhaps because openly carrying a gun screams "HELLO TERRORISTS! I AM YOUR FIRST TARGET! TAKE MY WEAPON AND USE IT AGAINST THE REST OF THE PLAN PLEASE! I HAVE NO IDEA WHO YOU ARE BUT I AM WEARING A WHITE SHIRT WITH RED CONCENTRIC CIRCLES ON IT."

Anyway, it sounds like the real issue is the guy tried to buy booze while openly displaying a firearm, and the flight attendant suggested that perhaps this was not a good idea, and that in the absence of any way to reliably secure the firearm, he should do his best to make sure it stayed under his control for the duration of the flight.

 

[Tory]

Anyone expecting discretion

or any other form of common courtesy - from a TSA agent is clearly out of the loop......