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CNN Live At Daybreak
Security Breach at Chicago's O'Hare Airport Raises Questions About How FBI Handled Matter; Military Families Discuss War Against Terrorism
Aired November 06, 2001 - 05:30 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And more now on that security breach at Chicago's O'Hare airport. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta is understandably furious and he's calling for more training for security workers.
National correspondent Susan Candiotti tells us exactly what happened.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The arrest of a 27-year old man from Nepal at Chicago's O'Hare Airport Saturday night reveals not only a disturbing breach, it also raises questions about how the FBI handled the matter.
The incident began when security guards hired by United Airlines confiscated two pocketknives from Subash Gurung (ph) at a screening checkpoint.
SUBASH GURUNG: And I just got in a hurry. I've got all these things to do.
CANDIOTTI: It wasn't until Gurung got to his gate that two United Airlines employees subjected Gurung to a second check and according to police made a frightening discovery. Inside his carry-on bag, seven folding lock-blade knives with two and a quarter to four inch blades, a stun gun, and a container labeled teargas.
The items were packaged with a camera in a white plastic bag. Two additional knives were later found in his checked luggage. Gurung told CNN affiliate WLS it was all an accident. He collects knives, and the stun gun was for protection.
GURUNG: I told you that I was living there in Chicago and I don't have any (INAUDIBLE) the time (INAUDIBLE) and (INAUDIBLE) secure and (INAUDIBLE) there.
CANDIOTTI: Chicago police charged Gurung with two misdemeanors, released him on bond, and ordered him to appear in court next month. After the story became public, the FBI rearrested Gurung Sunday night. He appeared in federal court Monday on charges of attempting to carry a weapon on an aircraft.
The FBI said Gurung's story had been thoroughly checked out and in a statement added there is no allegation this incident involves any suspected terrorist activity. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta called the O'Hare incident a failure of dramatic dimensions and says the federal government will likely impose a substantial fine against United Airlines.
Mineta says United will be required to retrain its passenger screeners employed by Argunbright (ph) at O'Hare Airport. Argunbright now says it is changing its procedures. From now on, hand luggage will be thoroughly checked if any suspicious item is found during a routine passenger search.
Susan Candiotti, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: Incidents like the one at O'Hare man settled some people with holiday travel plans. You can take part in our unscientific survey and check out how other CNN surfers registered their levels of concern. To vote and review the results, just click on CNN.com and hopefully you won't get the program shut down like ours did right there. You can click on and participate in the quick vote. I bet you have better luck than we did just there.
Well, I also might have noticed that somebody is missing next to me, you know, the big guy Leon Harris. Powers decided to give him a little break from the early wake-up call. They sent - or are actually sending Leon coast to coast doing what he does best and that is talking with people.
And while I do miss the big guy, you need to watch this. He sat down with some military families in Norfolk, Virginia. It gave him a chance to discuss how they're doing with their sons, fathers, daughters, mothers and loved ones fighting the war against terrorism. Let's listen in.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Now Eileen (ph) and Katie (ph) have told us that you've been through this probably the most of all the group (INAUDIBLE) many times?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nine times before.
HARRIS: Nine times before.
(CROSSTALK)
HARRIS: And you remember how many of these?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: About five.
HARRIS: Yes. Now has it been - has it been getting easier for you in the process or what? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Over the years it certainly does get easier. The - especially as the kids get older and help out a lot more. But you don't necessarily like it any better, but it does get easier.
HARRIS: Yes, how about with you Katie? I know it's got to be tougher, the older you get the more you want dad around right?
KATIE: It's like she said, it doesn't get easier, but the more - the more deployments they go by, it seems like the time is shorter to me.
HARRIS: Yes.
KATIE: It doesn't seem like he's gone as long.
HARRIS: Now Jean (ph) and Mary Francis (ph) here have gone through not quite as many times - how many times for you now?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Five.
HARRIS: Five times and you remember how many of them?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Three.
HARRIS: Yes and (INAUDIBLE) the same question - has it been easier, tougher?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it gets easier as the children get older also. They can help out more and they can understand a little bit more about what is going on.
HARRIS: Oh, oh help out more, does that mean she makes you do more? She's asking you to chip in more. Yes. Yes. Now Tony (ph) and Wendy (ph), you all have not been through it quite as many times, but the interesting thing with you all is that you are still in the service. You were once in the service, and now you've got your spouse is out there right now. How about it for you - both of you are committed to the same service. How do you - how do you prepare for something like this and being split up like this and you also have small children.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The kids keep me going. It's hard, but like I say the kids keep me going. The biggest question I have (INAUDIBLE) is from a four-year old - when is mommy coming home?
HARRIS: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But we're getting there. We're supporting her with everything she's doing.
HARRIS: When you were gone, did mommy tell you that the four- year old was asking the same questions when you were gone.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, she didn't (INAUDIBLE) but she always had my pictures up and we're doing the same thing. I (INAUDIBLE) around with their mother's picture in their hand. So ...
HARRIS: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're always thinking about her.
HARRIS: How about with you Wendy?
WENDY: I'm trying to always make sure daddy is part of our daily conversations and watch his picture and we have a storytime tape that is going to wear out ...
HARRIS: Yes.
WENDY: ... before daddy gets home. So that they'll remember - they'll be familiar with his face even if my son's too young to really remember ...
HARRIS: Yes.
WENDY: ... his dad (INAUDIBLE).
HARRIS: Yes the number one thing I've gotten from this trip here is that God's gift to military families is ...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: E-mail.
HARRIS: The invention of e-mail has really made things a lot easier for all of you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It sure has. It's daily contact where you can write a letter and get a response the next day sometimes where before you wrote a letter, it would take two weeks to get there, two weeks to get back. By then whatever problem you had or advice you wanted or where did you leave this thing when you left, you know, that's a problem solved.
HARRIS: Yes, well listen we thank you very much for taking time with us and sharing with us this morning. We hope that you all have a much easier road in the days ahead and we hope to keep in touch and see how things turn out for you all. Good luck.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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