San Jose's most recent security breach proof of American airports' perimeter security issues
In less than a year, five people have managed to breach the security fences at Mineta San Jose International Airport. The most recent incident was on March 31, when 20-year-old Deanna Predoehl somehow got over a fence in the southwest corner of the airport. And we say "somehow," because, even though the airport has released security footage that showed Predoehl in the act, the TSA edited out the most important part. Did she pole vault over the worthless collection of chain links? Use a giant pogo stick? Teleport herself? We may never know!
Rosemary Barnes, an airport spokesperson, told KTVU:
What we're sharing with you is what the TSA has approved for us to distribute [...] It's important that we learn from each of these security incidents. And we're making progress with security here at the airport.
By "making progress," she might be referring to the fact that the airport has gone more than three weeks without having to retrieve an unauthorized trespasser from its premises. Or it might be a reference to the airport's security upgrades.
San Jose Airport has received $9 Million from the Federal Aviation Administration to raise the height of its fences from six feet to ten feet and to add additional security improvements like "motion detectors and improved surveillance systems." (Predoehl was caught when a UPS driver saw her climbing – or pogoing – the fence. Presumably the new systems will be more sophisticated than someone else yelling "HEY! GET DOWN FROM THERE!")
Barnes, who has been a busy woman lately, told KGO
Our fenceline in all areas of airfield meets federal standards, but in light of the recent security incidents here at our airport, we're electing to increase the height of our fenceline at all areas of the airport.
There is probably an overworked Rosemary Barnes at almost every airport in the country, as security breaches are a widespread (and as-yet unsolved) problem. According to a recent Associated Press report, since 2004 there have been 268 perimeter security breaches at 31 major U.S. airports; that averages to more than 8 incidents per airport.
The question is whether San Jose's fenceline upgrades will be enough to deter would-be security threats. When California Rep. Eric Swalwell, a member of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation Security, heard about San Jose's fifth gatecrasher, he shrugged off the suggestion that taller fences were the answer. Swalwell said:
Show me a fence that is two-feet taller, I'll show you a ladder that's two feet taller than that.
Or a ladder that's four feet taller. Or an even bigger pogo stick.