MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) -
He also documented other security lapses -- including one incident where weapons were left unattended on the tarmac. They were in their cases, but they were unsecured.
Questions began to emerge after Fox 9 News revealed that an alleged terrorist spent a decade working at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Now, details of shoddy security are coming out too.
Those who worked alongside Abdirahmaan Muhumed when he was a young man cleaning planes told Fox 9 News they were shocked, but not surprised, to learn his body had been found among the dead following a battle with ISIS -- the same fight that killed another man with ties to the metro, Douglas McCain. Then, they began sharing stories about shoddy security -- including one case where it appears workers were told to deliberately mislead the TSA.
The people who clean planes are more than just janitors. They're also the first line of defense against domestic terrorism. Even so, one man who asked to have his identity protected told Fox 9 News, "It's an important job that goes to the lowest bidder."
While working as a cleaner for Delta Global Services, the man worked alongside Muhumed. Looking back, he says it's "terrifying" to know he was ever paid to secure planes. That's because it wasn't just his job to clean it. He was also supposed to look for weapons that may have been left or placed on the plane.
"You have to lift up the seat cushion, the seat back," Fox 9's source explained.
Cleaning crews are also expected to perform checks of the lavatory and galley, but the DGS worker who spoke with Fox 9 News said those tasks routinely did not get done while he worked there. There were simply too many planes and not enough cleaners to cover them all. That's when the TSA began planting decoy weapons aboard the plane before they were serviced.
"Numerous times, those test objects would not be found," he said. "TSA comes on board, finds objects, and realizes cleaners weren't in any of those areas."
According to the former worker, a supervisor at DGS put up signs in the offices and in the break room to warn employees. The signs directed workers to "call manager or supervisor" if the TSA came to the aircraft while cleaners were still working. In fact, the signs even suggested misleading TSA agents by urging employees to always say their check was not complete and then "go for supplies and call management immediately."
"If there wasn't a manager pushing them the whole time, they would ignore it," the worker said.
Fox 9's source described a culture that looked at the TSA almost as an enemy. He said security was an afterthought. Most cleaners entered the tarmac at checkpoint 222 by showing their security badge and getting a cursory check of their vehicle, but rarely the inside. Fox 9's source says he was never searched once, however, and even caught a security guard asleep at the checkpoint. He waited for 5 minutes before the guard woke up.
The former DGS worker did alert the TSA and sent them photographs, but he claims he never heard a word back. Meanwhile, he became so concerned about security that he hasn't flown since. Yet, the biggest risk of all may have been working side-by-side with a man who would later leave to fight and die overseas with a terror group.
"He could've planted a weapon on board easily -- very easily," the worker warned. "That's who they trusted to secure the plane before it takes off with your family on."
A spokesperson for Delta released a statement to Fox 9 News explaining that DGS discovered a sign in a break room in February which was providing "inappropriate direction" on how to handle TSA security checks at the airport. The sign, which violated policy, was immediately removed and the manager who hung it as disciplined. DGS no longer has the contract for cleaning planes, either. In April, a company called Airserv took over and hired many of the DGS cleaners.
TSA statement
TSA's approach to aviation security is unpredictable and layered. Every day, TSA works closely with air carriers to ensure security measures carried out by their vendors are in compliance with TSA rules and regulations. When violations occur, TSA can take a variety of actions to bring air carriers and their vendors into compliance. The actions can include more frequent inspections, civil penalties and other security countermeasures.
Lorie Dankers, TSA spokesperson
Delta statement
Delta statement
In February, DGS discovered a sign in a break room at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport that provided inappropriate direction to DGS employees for the handling of TSA security checks. The sign, which violated policy, was immediately removed and disciplinary action was taken with the manager who hung it.
In addition to TSA security checks, Delta Air Lines regularly conducts its own audits, at both corporate and local levels, of all vendor security processes. Delta accepts nothing less than absolute compliance to the strictest security and safety standards and protocols.
Betsy Talton, Delta spokesperson
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