Oct. 09--Transportation Security Administration officials said Monday, Oct. 7, they are mulling changing barrier arrangements at airport checkpoints to prevent another stowaway incident.
Officials said in an email statement they have reviewed video footage in which a 9-year-old Minnesota boy evaded airport security Thursday, Oct. 3, to board a Delta Airlines flight from Minneapolis to Las Vegas.
Officials are still unsure how the boy evaded security to board the flight.
"The child was screened along with all other passengers to ensure that he was not a threat to the aircraft," according to a TSA statement released Monday.
Lubbock International Airport spokesman Steve Nicholson said the airlines and the TSA handle matters of boarding and screening passengers.
Three airlines fly out of Lubbock International Airport: Southwest Airlines, American Airlines and United Airlines.
All three airlines have policies addressing children traveling alone. Children ages 5 to 11 are considered unaccompanied minors and may board flights alone provided parents or legal guardians confirm travel arrangements with an agent at the airport.
A spokesman with American Airlines said employees screen unattended children for boarding passes and assigned seats before they board a flight.
Delta Air Lines issued a statement Monday saying it's reviewing its policies and procedures to make sure another stowaway incident doesn't happen.
Officials say the boy took a light rail train to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Thursday. They're still not saying how he got past security screeners and gate agents to board the flight, which was not full. The flight crew later became suspicious and handed him over to authorities in Las Vegas.
(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)
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