ACS refutes ACSA claims over OR Tambo grenade security breach
Aviation Co-ordination Services (ACS) has rejected Airports Company South Africa's (ACSA) claims after a man travelled to Ethiopia from OR Tambo International Airport with two deactivated grenades.
The grim incident came to light when Ethiopian Airlines notified ACSA that a passenger who had departed from OR Tambo in Johannesburg was found with the training grenades during reverse hold baggage screening at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Mistake
This triggered an immediate urgent response with ACSA announcing its intention to terminate the services of ACS, the third-party operator responsible for hold baggage screening (HBS) at OR Tambo International Airport.
ACS CEO Duke Phahla said the training items were mistakenly cleared due to outdated equipment at the airport.
ALSO READ: Acsa loses appeal for control of baggage screening services at major airports
Risk
Phala said, contrary to ACSA's claims, it is not entitled to terminate the provision of services by ACS and accused the airport operator of blocking ACS from replacing HBS equipment at airports with more advanced and reliable screening technology, putting aviation security at risk.
'Had ACS been permitted to carry out the long-term HBS equipment upgrade and replacement, the security incident that took place on 25 May may well have been avoided.
'Our investigation found that the screener on duty was fully certified by the South African Civil Aviation Authority and the company that he worked for was appointed on the panel of security service providers and vetted by ACSA,' Phala said.
Screener dismissed
Phahla, the screener, had completed all required training, had passed recent assessments and had over ten years of screening experience.
However, he said that due to the seriousness of the breach, the screener was immediately suspended and later dismissed following the outcome of a formal disciplinary process.
'While the investigation concluded that human error was the immediate cause of the incident, it is critical that it be viewed in the broader context of the long-standing obstruction, by ACSA, of ACS's efforts to replace the HBS equipment with more advanced and reliable screening technology'.
Phala said ACS has 'zero tolerance to any form of security breach' and deems this incident to be gross negligence by the screener, which led to dismissal.
NOW READ: Acsa wants a look over in fight over baggage screening services
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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ ACS also claimed that "as a result of ACSA's refusals to allow it to replace the HBS equipment, ACS had to resort to bringing several urgent proceedings before the High Court in an attempt to force ACSA to permit the interim replacement of Level 3 back-up machines". 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ACS said the grenades were mistakenly cleared due to outdated equipment. Aviation Co-ordination Services (ACS) has rejected Airports Company South Africa's (ACSA) claims after a man travelled to Ethiopia from OR Tambo International Airport with two deactivated grenades. The grim incident came to light when Ethiopian Airlines notified ACSA that a passenger who had departed from OR Tambo in Johannesburg was found with the training grenades during reverse hold baggage screening at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Mistake This triggered an immediate urgent response with ACSA announcing its intention to terminate the services of ACS, the third-party operator responsible for hold baggage screening (HBS) at OR Tambo International Airport. ACS CEO Duke Phahla said the training items were mistakenly cleared due to outdated equipment at the airport. ALSO READ: Acsa loses appeal for control of baggage screening services at major airports Risk Phala said, contrary to ACSA's claims, it is not entitled to terminate the provision of services by ACS and accused the airport operator of blocking ACS from replacing HBS equipment at airports with more advanced and reliable screening technology, putting aviation security at risk. 'Had ACS been permitted to carry out the long-term HBS equipment upgrade and replacement, the security incident that took place on 25 May may well have been avoided. 'Our investigation found that the screener on duty was fully certified by the South African Civil Aviation Authority and the company that he worked for was appointed on the panel of security service providers and vetted by ACSA,' Phala said. Screener dismissed Phahla, the screener, had completed all required training, had passed recent assessments and had over ten years of screening experience. However, he said that due to the seriousness of the breach, the screener was immediately suspended and later dismissed following the outcome of a formal disciplinary process. 'While the investigation concluded that human error was the immediate cause of the incident, it is critical that it be viewed in the broader context of the long-standing obstruction, by ACSA, of ACS's efforts to replace the HBS equipment with more advanced and reliable screening technology'. Phala said ACS has 'zero tolerance to any form of security breach' and deems this incident to be gross negligence by the screener, which led to dismissal. NOW READ: Acsa wants a look over in fight over baggage screening services
