A congressional committee has launched a review of screening procedure on US flights in the aftermath of a stunt by a college student.
As reported by News From Abroad, the 20-year-old sneaked box cutters, bleach and modelling clay on to two passenger aircraft, having smuggled the objects through checkpoints at two airports.
Now, despite the fact that he sent an email telling the authorities what he had done, Nathaniel Heatwole is facing up to 10 years behind bars. According to The Times, he sent an email to the TSA on 15 September; maintenance workers found the box-cutters, bleach and clay on 16 October.
The United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has pledged to retrain its staff to pick up threatening messages; meanwhile Congress is demanding to know why the TSA ignored Heatwole’s email and has stated that it will review the TSA’s work in the light of the incident.
