Northeast Intelligence Network

Erie International Airport Security Incompetence

22 October 2003: Tom Ridge Field, Erie, PA-- It took place at the airport named after Erie's own Tom Ridge, Director of the United States Department of Homeland Security. A man possessing a knife in his carry-on luggage, and a razor, box cutter type sheath hidden in his shoe was "briefly" detained Tuesday, 21 October 2003  by federal airport screeners. However, he was STILL allowed to board the plane bound for Pittsburgh, PA, then scheduled for Fort Myers, Florida despite having tried to board the plane with the hidden items.

     According to airport security chief David BAGNONI, federal screeners contacted his department who searched the man and confiscated the knife and a cutting tool hidden under a cushion in his shoe. BAGNONI stated that the airport police had "little choice" but to let the man continue on his flight because "he didn't break any local or state laws and federal authorities had not requested that he be held". Quoted in the Erie Times News,
BAGNONI characterized the incident as a "procedural error" "The problem lies in the gray area," BAGNONI said.

     The man was ultimately detained Tuesday morning at his layover in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania according to FBI spokesman Bill Crowley. At the time of this writing, it is unclear whether he would be charged with any crime.

Douglas J. Hagmann, Director of the Northeast Intelligence Network Press Release calls for the IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION of David BAGNONI, son of former Erie City Councilman, former Erie Detective, and the center of much prior controversy. Press Release

SPECIAL THANKS to Syndicated Talk Radio Host Mike Gallagher for reporting this story NATIONWIDE on Thursday, 23 October 2003

SPECIAL THANKS to Talk Radio Host Patrick Campbell for reporting this story in depth on  22 October 2003

24 October 2003: Airport Director Kelly Fredericks "Praises Security"

     The CEO of the Erie Municipal Airport- Tom Ridge Field, Mr. Kelly FREDERICKS, praised airport security and defended the decision to allow an armed passenger to board a plane, despite possessing weapons at the airport. Jeremy SLITER, 23, of Warren County, Pennsylvania was found carrying a knife in his carry-on luggage and a "boxcutter" (razor) under the cushion of his shoe. SLITER admitted knowing about the knife in his luggage, stating that he was "unaware" of the weapon in his shoe. He reportedly speculated that "friends" might have "planted" the weapon prior to his departure for a "diving vacation" in Fort Myers, Florida. 

     SLITER was allowed to board the aircraft after he was disarmed. David BAGNONI, the head of airport security, (quoted here in the Erie Times-News, 23 October 2003), said SLITER'S demeanor was "calm and cooperative," and further stated "They (officers) determined that the guy was not going to be a risk to anybody on the plane." "I am very pleased with the actions of our public safety department."

     Interviewed by Erie, Pennsylvania based Northeast Intelligence Network analyst Jill St. Claire, Douglas J. Hagmann, Network Director, was calling for the immediate suspension of David BAGNONI by airport CEO FREDERICKS. Based on the public position of Mr. FREDERICKS, however, Hagmann is now calling for his immediate resignation for condoning the "inexcusable and absurd" decision of permitting the passenger to board the aircraft. Citing a very recent advisory issued by the Department of Homeland Security warning that a new series of attacks using aircraft as weapons were possible, Hagmann questions the obvious lack of proper judgment used by airport security personnel and David BAGNONI. "How would you feel if your wife, husband or child was aboard that aircraft, knowing that one of the passengers was caught with a knife in his bag and a razor in his shoe" asked Hagmann. "I fully intend to continue my efforts to seek the removal of airport security director David BAGNONI and raise the public's awareness of the serious implications of this issue," stated Hagmann. (Additional information about director of airport David BAGNONI security HERE)

"Airport Security Tightened"

AFTER THE FACT - AFTER THE EMBARRASSMENT 

BUT NO ONE IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE

Quoted in a story in the Erie Times-News on 29 October 2003, "changes have been made," said  airport Public Safety Director David BAGNONI to the members of the Erie Municipal Airport Authority Tuesday. According to information contained in the article, BAGNONI called the incident a "learning experience." 

With regard to the armed passenger Jeremy SLITER, who, after being disarmed of the knife in his carry-on bag and the box cutter blade hidden in his shoe, BAGNONI described the man as "apologetic and almost in tears." He denied knowing that the box cutter was in his shoe and said that "his friends might have planted it there as a joke," according to BAGNONI.

Currently, the passenger is being held in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania for violating a condition of parole on an unrelated state charge, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul BRYSH of Pittsburgh. BRYSH is undecided whether charges will be filed in this incident.

BAGNONI also theorized that SLITER might have been trying to imitate the 20-year-old Maryland college student who smuggled box cutters on Southwest Airlines jets.

According to the Erie Times-News, Airport Director and CEO Kelly FREDERICKS issued a public apology to US Airways at a board meeting held on Tuesday. FREDERICKS made a series of statements that he later retracted, including that "US Airways made the decision to allow SLITER to board the plane in Erie." This was found to be untrue, and no one from US Airways security was ever contacted. It was also reported that US Airways employees in Erie did not give their approval for the passenger to board, FREDERICKS said.

In an interesting twist, FREDERICKS learned only Tuesday, a week after the incident, that SLITER was WEARING the shoe that held the razor. He stated that he thought the razor was in a shoe in a carry-on bag, according to reports. Quoted in the Erie Times-News article, FREDERICKS stated: 

"I made some statements I would not have made if I had the facts straight," he said.

Erie Airport Authority Board President Tony Logue was also quoted as saying that the "bottom line is that security at the airport did work and security forces found the prohibited items and kept them off the plane," according to the article written by reporter Jim Carroll of the Times-News.

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Douglas J. Hagmann, Director of the Northeast Intelligence Network based in Erie, Pennsylvania, continues to call for the IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION of Airport Security Director David BAGNONI for gross incompetence relating to this incident (see Press Release). The lack of proper judgment exhibited by Mr. BAGNONI, especially when considered in light of the two recent news stories below, is particularly disturbing. The "tightening of security" after the fact is insufficient at best.