WASHINGTON (AP) – In an extremely unusual breach of security last month at an air base piloting an air force president, an apparently aimless intruder became reluctant for several hours and flew off an airplane before flying went on quirky. The headgear eluded him.
He wore what was described in an Air Force investigative report released on Thursday as “a bright red or pink cap that partially covered his ears and had distinctive balls at the top that resembled mouse ears.” Used to look. “
An airman at the operations office of Joint Base Andrews, located in Maryland, just outside Washington, spotted the man on the flight line and became suspicious, partly due to headgear, and called security. Officials said he never went close to Air Force One.
“Frankly, I’m just being honest, we had no idea we had an unauthorized civilian at the base. Sami Saeed, Inspector General of the Air Force, told reporters on his findings that he could have wandered for a very long time, that particular Not for the Air Force, which did not suit him.
The February 4 intrusion was reported on the same day by the Air Force, which opened an internal investigation to determine how it happened and what could be done to reduce the likelihood of a repeat. The investigation found three main security failures, starting with a “human error” by a gate security guard who allowed the man to drive to the base, although he had no credentials that authorized his access. . Hours later, the man slipped through a fence designed to restrict entry and went undetermined on the flight line. And, in the end, he boarded the parked airplane without any challenge and took off, even though he was not wearing the authorized badges necessary to reach the restricted area.
On the day of the incident, officials said the intruder was turned over to local law enforcement because there was at least one outstanding warrant for his arrest. His name has not been released. The inspector general’s report stated that he had “an extensive arrest record”, but further details were blacked out.
The inspector general said, “The security forces never actually saw him transitioning from the open gate to the aircraft.” In addition to his asymmetrical hat, the intruder’s clothes – darker pants and jackets and black high-top sneakers – could reveal him as a contractor, Saeed said, although he should have been challenged anyway, at least. No less because he did not see any badge authorizes his presence.
“The good news is that once the vigilance was taken, the security forces caught him very quickly – the minute he got off the plane,” he said.
Saeed said the modified Boeing 747, which serves as Air Force One for the President’s visit, was never a threat and is placed behind more layers of security at Andrews. “This area is exceptionally safe,” he said.
Unarmed, unarmed intruders boarded the C-40, a transport jet used primarily by members of the Cabinet, Congress and military combatant commanders. He did no harm and the Air Force investigation report, which was heavily censored by the Air Force before being released on Thursday, concluded that he had no plans to damage Air Force personnel or equipment. His purpose could not be determined with certainty.
The report stated, “The evidence supports the conclusion that the (vacant) bus was wandering around the base and did not enter the base to meet anyone.” “During the interrogation, (blank) stated that he came to the base because he wanted to see the airplane.”
After driving through the Virginia Gate at Andrews, the man drove to the base exchange, where surveillance camera footage showed him spending about an hour before returning to his car. His whereabouts could not be determined for the next four hours. Personnel from the 89th Air Wing Passenger Terminal reminded him to enter the terminal, and then he paid no attention to the flight line through an 18-inch gap in the security fence gate, which was completely caused by the “malfunction” Was not closed.
He boarded the C-40 aircraft, which was open to facilitate communication training sessions. Two members were aboard the aircraft. The intruder went to the rear of the aircraft and was released after a few minutes. He was stopped and arrested as he walked back towards the security gate on the flight line.
Saeed said that to his knowledge, Andrews had never experienced a security lapse before.
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