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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, January 15, 1998
Contacts: OIG: Jeff Nelligan (202) 366-6312
FAA: Rebecca Trexler (202) 267-8521
DOT 11-98

TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES MORE SURVEILLANCE OF AIR COURIER SHIPMENTS

Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater today announced additional surveillance of commercial air courier shipments has begun, prompted by a Department of Transportation surveillance operation which uncovered unacceptably low compliance with standards designed to keep hazardous materials off commercial airlines.

The joint surveillance operation was conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Transportation Office of the Inspector General in November 1997.

"The American people deserve to know that when they travel by commercial airline that hazardous materials are not improperly traveling with them," said Vice President Gore, who chaired the White House Commission on Aviation Safety and Security. "This review points out that more must be done by the federal government and the aviation industry to ensure the highest level of safety in the skies. I commend Secretary Slater for initiating this action and putting the aviation industry on notice that safety must be improved."

"Our review of the screening of air courier shipments by airlines demonstrates our continuing vigilance that safety is our top priority," said Secretary Slater. "Shippers and couriers must comply with the law and airlines must get tougher."

In October 1997, Secretary Slater announced the review of controls over accompanied commercial air courier shipments. The review was prompted by an Oct. 1, 1997, incident in Miami in which passengers boarding an American Airlines flight for Ecuador were evacuated because of noxious fumes in the cabin. Although the case is still under investigation, it appears that a passenger acting as an "accompanying commercial courier" had checked bags that were leaking a corrosive pesticide.

During November 1997, FAA and Inspector General teams performed intensive oversight inspections and tests of accompanied commercial air courier shipments presented for flight aboard passenger aircraft. The teams wanted to verify whether airlines and freight forwarders were following their FAA approved security programs, declaring and properly marking shipments, and labeling and documenting hazardous materials.

Although the joint inspections identified some strict compliance with approved security procedures, both the FAA and the Inspector General concluded the inspections demonstrated the level of compliance with approved security procedures was unacceptably low. Examples of noncompliance with federal rules included failures of airline personnel to both ask for and obtain proper documentation when couriers presented packages to be checked baggage, as occurred in the Oct. 1, 1997, incident.

Following the November 1997 surveillance operation, FAA security officials told airline representatives that the current level of compliance was unacceptable, and warned that improvements must be made.

As a result of these efforts, Secretary Slater has asked the FAA and the Inspector General to make recommendations that will enhance current air security programs.

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