NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- Security personnel at Newark Liberty International Airport were not authorized to conduct a test that resulted in a fake bomb being misplaced and put on a flight to Amsterdam, according to a published report.
The internal affairs report by the federal Transportation Security Administration found that the Dec. 14 test was improperly supervised and that security staff were poorly trained for the exercise, The Star-Ledger of Newark said in Wednesday's newspapers. The federal report also stated the test should not have been performed on machines that were scanning actual passengers' bags, according to the newspaper.
The fake bomb, a black bag that contained simulated explosives, a detonator, wiring and a clock, wound up on a Continental Airlines flight to Amsterdam carrying more than 200 passengers. It was retrieved there by a TSA representative from Belgium.
Federal officials said the fake bomb posed no threat because it contained an inert material.
The internal report said the ''screening and training exercises were contrary to policy,'' the newspaper reported.
Two TSA supervisors were fired following the incident and three other employees were disciplined, TSA officials said.
TSA spokeswoman Ann Davis said the internal investigation was not meant to be disclosed.
The Star-Ledger said portions of the internal report were read to the newspaper and then verified by ''another source familiar with the document.''
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Information from: The Star-Ledger, http://www.nj.com/starledger
