For decades now, TSA screening has been a way of life at America’s airports. In fact, the TSA was created all the way back on November 19, 2001, in the wake of the 9/11 tragedy.
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Although there are ways to simplify the security process, such as getting TSA PreCheck so you don’t have to take off your shoes or take out your laptop, you still have to go through the basic steps of having your bags scanned and walking through metal detectors or X-Ray scanners – or even sometimes undergoing a pat down if you’re unlucky enough to be chosen.
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While dealing with TSA is not anyone’s favorite part of flying, and there are questions about whether some policies (like limiting liquids) make sense, some type of security screening is widely viewed as essential to keeping the skies safe and ensuring passengers can get to their destination with minimal risk.
Unfortunately, however, a major issue was discovered with its security processes that could be jeopardizing the agency’s efforts to keep people safe. It’s an issue that has law enforcement officials frustrated and requesting a change to a policy one described as “the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard.”
Security risk revealed with TSA policy
11Alive News investigators, working with local law enforcement, identified a big security risk at Atlanta’s airport, which resulted in numerous guns getting through security checkpoints.
Those guns were being carried by flight crew members, who were able to pass through TSA checkpoints with their weapons without issue because they are not subject to the standard screening process.
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Flight crew can pass through Known Crewmember Checkpoints, and can just scan their badges and forego any other security measures unless randomly selected. This doesn’t mean they are allowed weapons, but just that they may not be caught if they have them.
The problem is that many do have them. There were already at least four instances in the first four months of 2025 when randomly selected crew members were caught with guns, just at Atlanta airport alone.
An 11AliveNews review of body camera footage conducted by law enforcement revealed that all four of the weapons were loaded, and one of those loaded weapons was being carried internationally.
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“I don't know why they don't screen them, that's strange to me,” one officer was heard commenting on the body camera footage after a crew member was caught. “Hopefully, we'll never have this happen again. I'm hoping this is going to change policy because that's the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard that known crew members don't get screened.”
The crew members did not get charged with a crime for bringing guns through security either, although those caught bringing weapons could be fined between $3,000 and $15,000.
TSA is making a big change
If four guns got through security in a four month period in Atlanta, it is unclear just how big the scope of the problem is. However, for most passengers, even one unauthorized gun likely feels like one too many.
The good news is, the TSA is changing the policy. While the Known Crewmember Program has been in effect since 2011 with 200 crewmember access points at airports across the U.S., the TSA is changing the rules and ending that program by the end of 2025.
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Although there are no specifics on how it will work yet, the KCP program is being replaced by a Crewmember Access Point (CMAP) program run solely by TSA instead of in partnership with the Air Line Pilots Association, which worked with TSA on the current system.
TSA officials called the new program “a security improvement” in a released statement, and Mark Howell, a TSA spokesperson, confirmed that it “represents a broad security enhancement.”
Hopefully, as the new program comes into effect, it will help to ensure that fewer guns find their way through security checkpoints so flyers can have the peace of mind that comes with not having to wonder if random crew members are carrying without authorization.
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