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Boston Airport Security Chief Revokes Permit of Security Contractor

BOSTON (AP) - The nation's largest airport security firm has been barred from working in Massachusetts because of its felony convictions, probation violations and continued lapses at Logan International Airport.

Col. John DiFava, superintendent of the state police and interim head of security at Logan, on Thursday suspended the state operating license of Argenbright Security Inc.

The company will be allowed to continue staffing security checkpoints at Logan through the busy Thanksgiving holiday to minimize disruption, DiFava said. The order affects one other airport in the state, Hanscom Field in Bedford.

"I felt we had ample cause and it was time to move," DiFava said.

The airlines that use Argenbright would choose its replacement. At Logan airport, Argenbright handles security for Delta Air Lines, Delta Shuttle, US Airways and America West.

On Tuesday, an Argenbright employee left an exit door unattended for four minutes at a Delta concourse. Hundreds of travelers had to repeat security screenings.

In late September, a traveler walked from a parking garage to a US Airways gate without going through a metal detector because Argenbright employees left a checkpoint unattended.

The company pleaded guilty last year in Philadelphia to violating federal rules on aviation security, including hiring convicted felons. It paid a $1 million fine, was placed on probation and agreed to conduct background checks on employees.

In federal court last month, Argenbright admitted it violated the terms of its probation by failing to conduct the background checks.

State police said the company's conviction alone would have been enough to revoke the license, but the recent lapses at Logan made the action necessary.

Argenbright, based in Atlanta, can appeal the decision at a hearing Nov. 30. In an effort to correct problems and regain the confidence of airlines and travelers, the company last week replaced its chief executive and announced a companywide restructuring.

"We have dealt forthrightly with issues surrounding Philadelphia and have made strides to improve compliance and move the company forward," chief executive David Beaton said in a statement Thursday.

Security at Logan has come under scrutiny since Sept. 11, when terrorists hijacked two airliners that departed from the airport and crashed them into the World Trade Center. Argenbright did not provide security to either hijacked carrier - American Airlines and United Airlines.

-- Anonymous, November 16, 2001

Answers

Not sure they have the authority (yet), but I think if the FAA were able to come through a terminal and close down any that weren't up to snuff, the airlines would have the incentive to behave. Right now, their bottom line doesn't require it.

-- Anonymous, November 16, 2001