Government investigators smuggle bomb parts past airport screeners

In a time when airport security concerns and flying anxiety are at an all-time high, the Government Accountability Office (GOA) has now found a way to increase both. Government investigators smuggled liquid explosives and detonators past airport security yesterday, exposing a major hole in the system.

The AP reported the exact steps the investigators tested, from finding a recipe for an improvised explosive device on the Internet to buying the components for less than $150. Thankfully, the AP did not report exactly what the devices were made of, or how they were smuggled past security.

However, this test did reveal that it’s possible for a terrorist to find publicly available information and cheap parts to create a bomb, and actually get it past security. This is not the first time investigators were able to get potentially dangerous items into the secure area of the airport. Earlier this year, on two different occasions, security guards missed lethal devices.

The Transportation of Security Administration (TSA) reassures us that there are several layers to airport security, and this is only one layer that failed. It does not mean that a person with intent to harm and the means to do it could actually board a plane. The TSA does agree, however, with investigators’ recommendations that more aggressive actions need to be taken to avoid an explosive situation.