A Transportation Security Officer agent has been fired after he unknowingly let two passengers, one with a loaded gun and the other with a knife, onboard separate flights on June 22, Fox News reported Friday. Flying from Phoenix to London, both the passengers were later discovered carrying the weapons in their hand luggage.
The passengers, both confirmed to not be terrorists, didn't make use of the items during the flight. However, they were caught by security staff at Heathrow Airport while they made their way to connecting flights.
William Joseph Richardson, 34, was making his way to a flight from London to Paris when security staff found the loaded Glock in his hand luggage. After confiscating his gun and ammunition, Richardson was taken in for further investigation, where it was revealed that he had a criminal record.
Seven hours later, airport security found the 3.9-inch folding knife on another unidentified passenger getting ready to board a connecting British Airways flight. According to UK MailOnline, his knife was confiscated as well.
"TSA employs multiple layers of security to protect the travelling public," TSA spokesman Ross Feinstein told FoxNews.com. "On board aircraft, these layers include reinforced cockpit doors, Federal Air Marshals, armed pilots and a vigilant public, as well as many others, both seen and unseen."
A TSA official confirmed that the agent responsible for the breach is no longer employed by the agency.
Approximately 1.8 million passengers and their luggage are screened by the TSA every day for prohibited items including weapons and explosives. The organization uses imaging technology to safely screen passengers for any items which may be concealed under clothing, while Advanced Technology X-ray units screen all hand luggage.
The latest incident occurred before it was announced by Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson on July 6 that mobile phones with dead batteries would no longer be allowed on certain flights, UK MailOnline reported.