Stupidity of Airport security-Should have been on the no drive list

Airline terrorism checks ground Kennedy
By Francis Harris in Washington
(Filed: 21/08/2004)


Senator Edward Kennedy, one of the most recognisable politicians in America, has complained that he was prevented from boarding aircraft by security staff because his name was on a "no fly" list.



The senior Democrat from Massachusetts, who has held his seat in America's upper house for 42 years and is the sole surviving brother of John and Bobby Kennedy, was rejected by airline staff five times earlier this year for flights to Boston, Washington, Palm Beach and New York.

According to a Kennedy aide quoted by the New York Times, a suspected terrorist had been using the alias Edward Kennedy.

Kennedy, 72, complained to a homeland security official at a senate hearing that he became aware of the problem when a member of the US Airways ground staff refused to hand him a ticket.

He said he was told: "You can't buy a ticket to go on the airline to Boston." Kennedy added: "I said, 'Well why not?'. He said, 'We can't tell you'."

Senior airline staff eventually overruled their ticket sales staff and allowed Mr Kennedy to travel.

The senate hearing erupted in laughter at the senator's story.

Mr Kennedy sought to broaden the issue to encompass the difficulties of the travelling public. "How are they going to be able to get to be treated fairly and not have their rights abused?" Mr Kennedy asked Asa Hutchinson, the under-secretary of homeland security.

Mr Kennedy revealed that he had then received a call from the head of homeland security, Tom Ridge, who had apologised for the incident and promised to put things right.

Days later, the senator was refused access to another flight. Mr Kennedy said: "He [Ridge] couldn't get my name off the list for a period of weeks."

"No fly" lists were introduced after the September 11 terrorist attacks.