TSA chief plays down security testing failures

Transportation Security Administration chief Kip Hawley told a House committee not to be too concerned about a recent GAO report showing up lapses in airport security. GAO’s undercover investigators were reportedly able to sneak bomb parts past security checks at 19 airports, either in carry-ons or on their persons, according to the report, including various commercially available liquids and detonator devices. But Hawley said even if someone were to slip such items past security inspectors, it’s no easy matter to assemble an effective explosive device aboard an airplane. Hawley told the panel that scenario would be “like bringing watch parts through (a security checkpoint) and then saying ‘I’m going to assemble the watch during the flight.’” He also claimed the GAO’s undercover tests were not statistically significant.