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CNN Live At Daybreak

FAA Whistleblower Accuses Supervisors of Ignoring Problems

Aired February 28, 2002 - 05:16   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Feel safe at the airport? Listen to this story. An FAA whistleblower is accusing his supervisors of ignoring security loopholes at airports across the country and then covering up the security problems. The claims are deemed serious enough for the government to launch an investigation.

Our Kathleen Koch has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The charges are stunning, that an FAA security team in the late '90s found widespread problems at major U.S. airports, was sometimes told to cover them up and that nothing was done to correct the vulnerabilities. FAA whistleblower Bogdan Dzakovic now says his team has been grounded, barred from inspecting airports since September 11.

BOGDAN DZAKOVIC, FAA WHISTLEBLOWER: And now that we're in this national crisis of security, the last thing they want is for us to emphasize that there's still major problems. We're still engaged in a facade of security, as we were before September 11.

KOCH: The Transportation Department says its inspector general has been conducting weekly tests of airport security and the former FAA security director denies anyone hid or failed to address security problems.

CATHAL FLYNN, FORMER FAA SECURITY CHIEF: We used that data very fully to improve the system and to require the air carriers or the airports who weren't doing the job properly to improve their procedures. That was done. There was follow up on the red team testing.

KOCH (on camera): While Dzakovic's allegations are troubling, it will be risky for any future aviation security employee to publicly report such problems. That's because unlike every other federal worker, employees of the new Transportation Security Administration won't have former whistleblower protection.

(voice-over): Consumer watchdog groups are concerned.

PAUL HUDSON, AVIATION CONSUMER ACTION PROJECT: Without whistleblower protection and other strong oversight we run the risk of more cover-ups and as we restore the transportation system to its full capacity, having those security levels actually decline towards where they were on September 11.

KOCH: Screeners, too, are worried.

(on camera): Do you think it's important the screeners have the ability to go to Congress, go to the media with concerns about how this operation is being run without fear of retribution?

JEFF PROSANSKY, SCREENER: Oh, I hope it's not necessary, but it is important.

KOCH (voice-over): A spokesman insists the Transportation Department will set up its own informal system to encourage employees to speak out. But critics say workers may not be willing to bet their jobs on that.

Kathleen Koch, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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