Click to play videoNew Delhi: CNN-IBN has unearthed a serious lapse of security at Delhi’s international airport that could bring on a serious security threat.
There is a lack of skilled vigilance overseeing key operations that the Airport authorities need to look into.
Pictures taken by CNN-IBN show that a responsible security officer is conspicuous by his absence as loaders and cleaners move luggage in and out of a plane.
Strict surveillance is absolutely necessary at this stage as a lapse would mean a serious security threat to the crew and passengers on board, not to mention other repercussions of a terror threat materialising.
Aviation Security experts and former Regional Deputy Commissioner of BCAS C K P Sinha told CNN-IBN that this needs immediate correction.
“Surveillance must be there. If there is no surveillance it is certainly a breach. Without security officer it should not be loaded,” Sinha said.
The video CNN-IBN from inside the airport make up area has shows only civil staff loading luggage into trolleys.
CNN-IBN's Aviation Correspondent said that while preliminary checks like X-ray checking luggage and searching is available at the airport check-in counters, the lapse is at the last and the most sensitive point of loading luggage.
An authorised Airport Authority personnel should be present at this point to oversee loaders and cleaners carrying out an error-free job.
This luggage is then taken to the aircraft with no security person to oversee that :
- No untagged baggage is put into the trolley and none of the tagged ones are left behind
- The people loading the aircraft with luggage have also thoroughly checked the aircraft
It is also the job of security experts to oversee and ensure that:
- Maintain a list of the technicians and maintenance staff who enter the aircraft before passengers
- Make sure that all maintenance staff that enters the aircraft get out before take off.
They also need to Keep a vigil on the aircraft and areas surrounding it so that no one makes an unauthorised entry.
“Some unauthorized person may attack that aircraft. He may appear at any time from anywhere. There should be somebody to watch the aircraft also not just the luggage. So security officer must be there,” added Sinha.
The Airport Authorities may have a reason for this compromise. It is reported that there is a sudden deficit of 300 trained security personnel.
The employees of AIL-ASL, a subsidiary company of Indian airlines that handles baggage security have gone on an indefinite strike from June 1, 2009, demanding better wages and benefits.
Twenty-one security employees from Delhi and Amritsar have been terminated.
Indian Airlines has only 75 other trained personnel.
Aviation experts say that the situation demands immediate attention and correction to avert a disaster waiting to happen.
(With inputs from karma Paljor )
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