A passenger with three box cutters in his carry-on luggage walked past enhanced security at John F. Kennedy Airport and onto an international flight, according to authorities.
Eusebio D. Peraltalajara, 45, of Jersey City, boarded JetBlue Flight 837 to the Dominican Republic on Saturday with the three box cutters, according to TSA spokesperson Ann Davis.
According to the TSA, when Peraltalajara was placing his luggage in the overhead bin, the box cutters fell out of the bag and the attendant called the flight’s captain. The captain contacted the Port Authority police, who called the Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Peraltalajara was not charged with a crime. He told authorities that he forgot to take the box cutters out of his bag.
According to JetBlue spokeswoman Sharon Jones, the flight was deplaned after the box cutters were found and all passengers were re-screened by the TSA prior to departure.
The plane then continued without incident to its destination.
The TSA said it plans to take disciplinary action against its officers who did not properly screen Peraltalajara’s luggage.
“There have been a number of additional security layers implemented on aircraft since 9/11 that would prevent someone from causing catastrophic damage with small cutting devices," the TSA said. "They include the possible presence of armed federal air marshals, hardened cockpit doors, armed pilots, flight crews trained in self-defense and a vigilant traveling public who have demonstrated a willingness to intervene.”
