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Lawmakers called on the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to step in to improve Clear’s screening processes.
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On Monday, Politico reported two additional security incidents that occurred this year.
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In one case, a person used a ticket found in the trash to be escorted through security by Clear.
Claire, the private travel membership program that provides express service through airport security lines, came under scrutiny again this week for two incidents that allowed travelers to go through the airport. Pass TSA checkpoints Although they were not part of the program and their identity was not verified.
The latest incidents were reported on Monday by Politicowhich quoted an unnamed legislative aide, said lawmakers have been briefed on the matter.
In both cases, which occurred in March and January, a person who was not on Clear could still be escorted TSA The aide said identity checks were carried out by a program employee, without checking their identities. People still had to go through the TSA baggage check line. It is not clear exactly when it was discovered that they had done so improperly through security without an identity check. The aide told Politico that no one had boarded the plane.
In one incident, someone who didn’t already have a plane ticket pulled a boarding pass from the trash, and used it to get to Clear’s escort service. In the other incident, the passenger noticed that the boarding pass was for a different airport.
Clear It charges its customers $189 a year to cut through airport security lines with a “touchless” ID check. Instead of waiting in line to show their ID or driver’s license to TSA, CLEAR passengers can have their eyeballs or fingerprints scanned to confirm their identity. The staff then leads them to the TSA ID checking line, straight to the security check where bags are checked.
The aide told Politico that the passengers in those two incidents were able to get past the TSA checkpoint “because of Claire’s lack of oversight.”
“Several months ago, two CLEAR employees violated our strict protocols and improperly brought two travelers through TSA security without properly checking them, and then went through TSA’s physical security check without issue,” Claire said in a statement provided to Insider. “Security is job number one at CLEAR, which is why we took immediate action – terminating the responsible staff and their managers and retraining the ambassadors for each site.”
Lawmakers are calling on the Transportation Security Administration to intervene Clear. The calls followed a security incident last summer bloomberg It stated that it involved a person using someone else’s identity to sign up for Clear. previously said clear from the inside That was “one case of human error that was dealt with immediately”.
Washington Post I reported last month that the TSA plans to require more visible members to undergo random identity checks as part of efforts to improve the company’s screening process.
In a statement provided to Insider, the TSA said: “TSA is responsible for ensuring that all systems and software, including those provided by private companies, meet required standards and will take the necessary steps to ensure that security needs are met. Accurate and reliable verification of passenger identity is fundamental to aviation security and effective vetting by the Transportation Security Administration.”
The TSA added that all registered flyer programs are required to follow their own security procedures, including future use of Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) Modules To check passenger identity and flight check status.
The House Homeland Security Committee did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.
Rep. Benny Thompson, the committee’s top Democrat, told Politico in a statement, “Having seen multiple security breaches occur over the past year due to CLEAR’s lax security controls, it’s clear that the company is putting its bottom line ahead of the security of our aviation system.”
He added, “Every day that passes, the homeland is in greater danger until the Transportation Security Administration works to close these security vulnerabilities that were alerted to it last year.” We cannot afford any further delay.”
Read the original article at Business interested
