Officials: Serious lapses in security at the JFK airport shuttle

The lack of security on the AirTrain shuttle system at JFK airport has raised concerns.The unmanned, unpoliced AirTrain system increases has lack of security was discussed, in a New York homeland security heard "It's a bad situation," says port authority union officer

New York (CNN) --eine number of security bugs in an airport shuttle system in New York is concerns trigger in some port authority officers and state senators.

"Under the cops that it is known also as possible weapons delivery system,", an official of the port authority said police of the AirTrain shuttle system, the thousands of passengers to and from John F. Kennedy International Airport Ferry. The official wanted to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue.

The lack of security on the system-an eight mile fully automatic, unmanned Railroad--a State Homeland Security consultation was to discuss vulnerabilities, even 10 years after the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington are discussed Friday.

"It is not scanning of bags, there is no scanning of passengers," State said Senator Greg ball, which is also the Chairman of the Committee of New York State Homeland Security. "We should staff on this transport have uniformed corridor, we do not."

Police Benevolent Association Vice President Robert Morris described it as "a bad situation", noted that the airport shuttle trains giving the international arrivals building of airport directly below the slopes you are working with the airlines such as El Al.

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"Port Authority security study, that the deployment of this system was for 18 police officers on the day, the system of the police." Three city tour duty a day, 365 days a year, "said Morris the Panel." "Have in the last 12 months, we had 40 tours, is about two weeks worth of coverage with an officer."

The hearing requested ball, Division of the Police Benevolent Association, a National Union, was made in March by the New York Police represents. A lack of security on the airport shuttle quoted the Union in their complaint. The port authority of New York and New Jersey is responsible for the security in New York City airports, bridges and tunnels.

The port authority said in a statement on Friday that there is no lapse in security.

"Way that the force, which and cameras as well as all of our provided security apparatus, certainly within all port authority should feel means the travellers public facilities", the statement said.

Bobby Egbert, spokesman for the port authority police benevolence Association, Saturday given that the port authority is a large organization with many responsibilities. If it develop to the transport of people and commerce in the bistate region, he said that the Agency does a great job.

"The problem is that public safety concerns seriously take it," he said.

According to Egbert the biggest problem with security on the AirTrain system is especially a lack of communication lack of a central radio system in the new JetBlue terminal five.

Morris noted the lack of a-to-use radio in the Terminal, say that officers instead of Handys--a slower form of communication when officers quickly call, backup, or relay information must be issued.

While officers in the Terminal carrying radios on the belt, it "as well as carry a brick could be", said Morris Friday.

Egbert referred to the example of Steven Slater, the JetBlue flight attendant, who pulled the emergency slide of a level and ran from the airport.

"This is way, like him," said Egbert. "The two cops in the service had no idea what was going on."

While Slater's hurt anyone not stunt, Egbert, believes that his escape the real security threat to the people in the surrounding AirTrain terminals and airport exhibits.

Ball's Office said that a further hearing in Albany next month there will be some of the concerns in Friday's meeting detailed follow up.

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