Security breach reported at PDX 2

Ashland Daily Tidings (Ashland, OR — Wayback)

2002-08-12

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--> --> Security breach reported at PDX PORTLAND (AP) - Security guards at Portland International Airport cleared passengers from the south concourses Thursday night after a security breach, forcing about 500 people to pass through security checkpoints a second time. Airport spokesman Steve Johnson said someone made it past the checkpoint without having luggage checked by security at about 6 p.m. The bag had been run through an X-ray machine but guards also planned to check it manually, he said. However, the passenger grabbed the bag and walked off before they got to it. "He didn't do it intentionally, he didn't run, and he didn't act suspicious," Johnson said. By the time security guards noticed, the man had blended in with the crowd and security personnel never learned who it was. Security guards quickly cleared the A, B and C concourses and pulled some passengers off already-loaded airplanes. Passengers who had already gone through security checkpoints were told to go through again. Meanwhile, police thoroughly checked the concourse for any hidden weapons. "Security is a top priority," Johnson said. "It's a timely process." Passengers were told they could be delayed up to two hours but the lines moved quickly and were back to normal by about 7 p.m. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing