In a move that looks suspiciously like retribution, the Transportation Security Administration slapped American Eagle with an investigation alleging "multiple security violations" at Chicago. The investigation, which could result in $175,000 in fines, was launched a day after American Eagle complained a TSA inspector used a TAT probe to hoist himself up to a jet bridge in an attempt to gain access to the aircraft. It also comes a month after CNN Reporter Drew Griffin criticized the million+-name terrorist watch list only to have his named added to the list.
A maintenance worker observed the culprit as he climbed up the ninth aircraft and questioned him. “If not observed by vigilant Eagle employees in Chicago, the actions of this inspector would have been unknown and could have jeopardized the safety of our customers and crew because of potential damage to the sensitive equipment mounted on the aircraft fuselage,” said the company.
American Eagle insists it followed all security protocols for securing the aircraft including locking the cockpit, securing the aircraft door and retracting the jet bridge. While the story remains a moving target, the Regional Airline Association signaled the effect TSA scrutiny has. “I think that, at the height of summer travel season with airlines cutting back services and more than 35,000 airline professionals out of work, it is unconscionable that the actions of a single TSA agent caused the grounding of more than 40 flights delaying and inconveniencing hundreds of passengers,” said RAA President Roger Cohen. “What’s most unfortunate is that this is an increasingly common pattern of behavior with more frequent reports of TSA agents making it harder for our passengers to get where they need to go and for our employees to do their jobs. If this was reported correctly, TSA, at the world’s second busiest airport, demonstrated they can do something like this without recourse. The airline gets blamed and what’s worse is the fact the airline is potentially subject to some kind of fine. Who fines the TSA?”
The agency said its inspector was wrong in using the probe which generally has a placard with “no step,” according to the Air Line Pilots Association which expressed concern about the event. TSA said the inspector would get retraining. While TSA said it was trying to eliminate security vulnerabilities at AE at Chicago, the inspector’s cavalier attitude toward aircraft equipment has caused a firestorm of protest from pilot groups. Expressing outrage, pilots openly questioned what may be happening with their aircraft under TSA’s watch. They peppered the internet with complaints about the incident, questioning the qualifications of inspectors and predicting that such actions will ultimately bring down a plane.
"The brilliant employees used an instrument located just below the cockpit window that is critical to the operation of the onboard computers," one pilot wrote on an American Eagle internet forum. Another pilot wrote the TSA agents, "are now doing things to our aircraft that may put our lives, and the lives of our passengers at risk."
While no damage was done to the TAT probe, the inspector’s actions caused the grounding of nine American Eagle aircraft after the inspection early Tuesday morning and caused 40 flights to be delayed or cancelled.
The TSA inspector used a TAT probe as a ladder to try to break intothe nine aircraft at Chicago O’Hare. The incident occurred on Aug. 19 between 5 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. when an inspector used the probe to hoist himself up from the ground onto several jet bridges at O'Hare. Such unorthodox inspection techniques required additional maintenance inspections per FAA procedures to ensure there was no damage to the probe, said AE. After finding no damage, all aircraft were back in service by 10:45.

Consistent Problems?
TSA said that it has consistently found problems with American Eagle security at ORD, according to a CNN report, which added TSA said the inspector was able to gain access to seven of the nine aircraft.
Repeated attempts to find out if, and when, TSA communicated its security concerns to American Eagle prior to last week’s incident, were not successful with both TSA and American pointing to their joint statement signed by Kip Hawley and AE President Peter Bowler: “The Transportation Security Administration and American Eagle share the same security goals,” they said. “The airline is a valued partner and has an excellent overall record for security practices. TSA and American Eagle are working together to achieve the right security results and resolve any security gaps that have occurred.”
The question about whether TSA will reimburse American Eagle for the maintenance and passenger costs of the incident also remains unanswered. However, Roger Cohen weighed in on this as well. “This goes above and beyond,” he said. “Even if TSA did have concerns about American Eagle’s security at O’Hare that doesn’t justify some guy crawling over an airplane and putting its airworthiness in question to try to prove a point. What point were they trying to prove? That they could foul up flights for 100s of people? If so, they did a damn good job.”
TSA said it allows unsecured doors as long as it is parked far enough away from the jet bridge. The agency said the inspection was designed to follow up after the same vulnerability was found during earlier inspections.
ABC News also reported that spot checks at Mesa Air Group indicated that the airline failed to maintain area/aircraft security in half of all TSA investigations involving the company, according to a company bulletin which outlined a “zero-tolerance” policy for such failures which could result in dismissal.