Security Breach Prompts Rescreening of Passengers in Albuquerque, NM

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) -- Passengers behind security barriers at Albuquerque's airport had to be rescreened Friday after someone evaded the metal detectors by going through the exit line.

All passengers in the secure areas were sent to the front of the Albuquerque International Sunport, near the ticket counters, but the airport was not evacuated, said Lance McKinney, the airport's operations manager.

The departing passengers then were sent back through the airport's metal detectors and security screening.

Maggie Santiago, a spokeswoman for the federal Transportation Security Administration, said the security breach meant delays.

''People will be a little later and probably some will miss connections,'' she said.

Screeners first tried using videotapes to locate the person who entered the area from the wrong line, but had to evacuate the concourses when the person couldn't be found, Santiago said.

''It's not this huge security issue, but we'd rather err on the side of safety,'' she said.

Santiago would not even try to guess how many people were affected by the security breach.

''It's a lot,'' she said.

Copyright 2005 Associated Press