Security breach empties airport

Late yesterday morning, a Federal Aviation Administration security specialist declared a security breach at Lihu’e Airport, and ordered the terminal evacuated for about 30 minutes on Friday morning.

According to Marilyn Kali, state Department of Transportation spokeswoman, a Wackenhut security guard left his post near a door leading to the “sterile” or secured area of the Richard Kawakami Terminal, to use the bathroom.

While he was gone, an FAA security official came upon the unattended security door, declared a security breach, and ordered the terminal evacuated.

The breach was reported around 11:30 a.m., the terminal was cleared by noon, and after a security inspection the terminal was re-opened by around 12:10 p.m., Kali said.

At the time of the breach, there were four jets on the ground, two Hawaiian and two Aloha, and before the terminal reopened a third Hawaiian jet was kept waiting on the taxiway, she explained.

The Wackenhut Corp. security guards are technically hired by the airlines using the airport, though they work for Wackenhut. The FAA will likely fine Wackenhut for the security lapse, but that is a matter between the FAA and Wackenhut, Kali said.

The area of the breach is referred to as a foyer, or area between the sterile terminal and non-sterile sidewalk outside the airport and non-sterile baggage claim areas.

Automatic doors open allowing passengers to exit the sterile terminal and go either to the baggage claim area or outside the airport building.

But there is nothing but a security guard to prevent someone from accessing the sterile area through the automatic doors once activated from inside the sterile area.