13 WTHR - Indianapolis News |New security restrictions not foolproof

New security restrictions not foolproof

Sandra Chapman/13 Investigates

Indianapolis - New restrictions greet passengers at the doors of Indianapolis International Airport, but 13 Investigates discovered that it's easy enough to thwart them.

To test security, Eyewitness News brought along a bottle of water. At the security checkpoint, the Transportation Security Administration asked if we had any lotions or gels and informed us all shoes were being screened.

Our tickets were purchased a few hours before travel time, and they were coded with a security alert for extra screening. It's a post-9/11 safety precaution. We stepped through the airport's explosive-detecting puffer machine. After checking our carry-on baggage and seeing the bottle of water, the TSA workers gave us the option of throwing it out or asking someone to retrieve it for us. In the latter case, passengers can leave the security area and deal with the restricted items themselves - perhaps this would involve putting them back in the car or sending them ahead - but a further security check would be required. Another option is simply checking in the restricted items in a box.

Passengers endured another search before getting on their flight. One cup of milk was all one mom got to take on her journey west with her little boy.

For our storm-delayed flight to Chicago, there was no additional screening and no problem carrying in full view a cup of coffee - more than six ounces of liquid would make the flight.

At O'Hare, we asked about the restrictions for the coffee. "You can carry it through here; you just can't go through security," one flight attendant said. "You won't be able to board the airplane with coffee," said the pilot. "Well, she boarded this one with coffee," pointed out the flight attendant. "Nobody stopped her, so enjoy, ma'am."

On the return flight, the liquid of choice was a bottle of iced tea. Like Indianapolis, TSA at O'Hare issued warnings before we ever reached the checkpoint. Again, our last-minute tickets raised suspicion and resulted in extra screening. But this time, we were the ones surprised. TSA confiscated six lipsticks that made it through the checkpoint in Indianapolis. In our case, American Airlines was very helpful in providing a box for lipstick and other cosmetics, which we had to check in just like a regular suitcase.

For the home stretch, we purchased a fountain drink and a bottle of water for our souvenir bag. This time, access was denied based on the drink in hand. But with no additional screenings, a sealed bottle of water made the trip from Chicago to Indianapolis, no questions asked.

The security lapses happened after the initial checkpoint site, but that's still critical: the airlines are supposed to be a backup system in case anything is missed. In this case, they missed it twice.