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- September 25, 2002, 12:00 PM
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- Illegals, Sabotage, and Security
by Victor Trombettas
- You've heard the reports since September 11th, 2001. Hundreds
of arrests at airports all over the United States of workers
who provided false information with their employment applications,
had engaged in identity theft/fraud, many of them were illegal
immigrants, some with criminal records. Most of those arrested
seemed to be ramp workers, security screeners, etc., many with
access to restricted areas. Just this month, 28 workers were
arrested at Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. With the
exception of some arrests that were made at the Salt Lake City
Airport in December 2001, rarely have the words "mechanics"
or "maintenance personnel" been used to describe those
arrested.
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- The most notable exception to this occurred on June 29, 2002
when the
Star Telegram of Dallas/Fort Worth reported that on June
28, 2002 dozens of federal agents raided a Spirit Airlines repair
facility at Fort Worth Meacham Airport in Texas and arrested
28 workers. On July 25, 2002 the Department of Justice (DOJ)
announced that 15 of the 28 workers were "aviation mechanics"
and had been indicted on 36 counts including the possession and
use of false and fraudulent resident alien registration cards;
the alteration of social security cards; falsely representing
that a social security number was assigned to them; providing
false information to obtain a social security account number;
and falsely claiming to be a citizen or national of the United
States". The DOJ press release states: "Of the fourteen
persons charged today, the complaints allege that nine held passports
from the Philippines, three held passports from Mexico, and two
held passports from Peru."
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- The Star Telegram story also reported that their sources
indicated that some of those arrested were suspected of being
affiliated with Abu Sayyaf, a Muslim extremist group in the Philippines
that is believed to be working with Al Qaeda. However, the DOJ
press releases did not mention anything about suspected ties
to terrorist groups or any criminal activity having taken place
at Spirit Aviation.
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- But there is more to that story. A couple weeks ago I was
put in touch with an individual with inside information about
events at Spirit Aviation. This person's story was credible,
verifiable, and a compelling account.
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- Prior to September 11, 2001, at least nine months before
federal agents swarmed through Spirit Aviation and arrested the
28 workers, management at Spirit Aviation had detected at least
3 cases of sabotage to Spirit Airlines jets. There was a very
high degree of certainty at Spirit that what was discovered was
indeed sabotage of (a) the engines, (b) the bolts in the tail
section, and (c) the wiring in the cockpit. Needless to say,
this was a matter of great concern to Spirit. Initially, the
approach was to handle the investigation in-house. The saboteur(s)
were suspected as coming from a group of certified mechanics
at that facility who were Muslim. There was no evidence tying
anyone to the sabotage. This all occurred prior to 9/11/01.
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- Spirit Airlines was contacted for comment by usread.com.
Here is their official response:
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- During summer of 2001, Spirit Aviation Services became
aware of some atypical situations, performed an internal review,
identified the problem and put measures in place to correct it.
There have been no occurrences since. Spirit Airlines is very
comfortable with Spirit Aviation Services and the work it performs
on our aircraft.
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- September 11, 2001 -- before the clock had struck noon in
New York City, the name Osama Bin Laden was on everyone's lips.
And before long, we had confirmation ... the hijackers were Muslim
extremists, probably members of Al Qaeda. And by the end of that
horrible, unforgettable week, the FBI had been notified about
the sabotage at Spirit Aviation, and that the suspects were Muslim.
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- Two months later, November 12, 2001, American Airlines Flight
587 (an Airbus A300-600) crashed in Belle Harbor, NY amid very
unusual circumstances. The tail and rudder and both engines separated
in-flight. Terrorism or sabotage were quickly downplayed and
ruled out. "All indications at this time are that this is
an accident", stated the rookie Chairman, Marion Blakey,
even before the flight recorders had been analyzed.
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- The FAA had ordered visual inspections of all Airbus A300
tails soon after the crash of American 587. The Associated Press
reported on January 16, 2002 that 40 of the 93 Airbus A300's
in the United States had bolts in the tail section that had "rotated",
i.e. loosened. Did these rotations occur on their own? Or had
those bolts been manually loosened? Officials of Airbus North
America and the FAA said there were never any concerns about
safety. I asked an Airbus A300 mechanic, "could rotation
of the bolts introduce the potential for dangerous vibration
to the tail structure?" His answer: "I have to think,
yes, it does. The bolt is supposed to be torqued to a specific
range. This range should draw the bolt (which is tapered) into
the tapered sleeve and expand it to a required amount within
a design range. And, having rotation shows that there's very
little torque on the bolt."
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- Bob Tamburini, an Airbus A300 Captain said "Indications
that saboteurs are 'at work' on the payrolls of airlines adds
another dimension to air safety. Crash investigators can no longer
rule out sabotage/terrorism in a 'rush to judgment' designed
to appease the flying public -- not when FAA certified mechanics,
(possibly) linked to terrorist cells, can loosen attachment bolts
on aircraft tails and engines. The time has come to ensure that
all airport/airline employees meet the strictest background checks,
regardless of the associated costs."
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- Even if the sabotage at Spirit Aviation is unrelated to the
crash of American 587, the Spirit case is troubling since it
highlights some of our vulnerabilities in aviation security.
This is certainly not a problem unique to Spirit Aviation. In
fact, they are probably as clean as can be right now and I would
feel very comfortable flying Spirit Airlines. One Pilot, who
flies in and out of New York City's JFK Airport, stated "this
case (Spirit Air) points out the lack of background checking
and the lack of ramp security. This was a concern before this
information came forth and certainly even more so now".
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- The indictments leveled against the 15 mechanics also illustrate
how vulnerable we are beyond the aviation industry. What
other professional, skilled, sensitive positions have been compromised
by the presence of illegal immigrants who have secured their
positions with fraudulent documentation? What potential dangers
do we face in those industries? Our borders and immigration policies
continue to be a serious national security problem and the U.S.
Government has simply not focused enough attention and resources
at reducing and eliminating the threats we face from these weaknesses.
A U.S. Border Patrol agent I spoke to was very much looking forward
to this article. He feels much attention needs to be focused
in this area and any media coverage highlighting how exposed
we are is welcomed.
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- The problem of illegal immigrants slipping across the borders
of Canada and Mexico is a function of problems overseas. The
Observer of England reported this past Sunday, "Corrupt
security guards employed by airlines are being bribed to allow
asylum seekers, criminals and even terrorist suspects to pass
through checkpoints unchallenged, making a mockery of measures
introduced in response to the 11 September terror attacks. A
10-month investigation by the newly formed Human Smuggling Unit
(at London Heathrow Airport, LHR) has uncovered evidence of a
'highly sophisticated and global' operation that has helped migrants
from Afghanistan, Iraq, India, Pakistan and Lebanon to travel
to the US and Canada via Britain. Although the loophole was first
uncovered at Heathrow, officers say the problem is not confined
to one airport or airline and is part of a multi-million pound
business."
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- The DOJ informed me that of the 15 indicted mechanics, Marvin
Muncal Saquilabon, a Philippine citizen, has been a fugitive
since the day of the raid, June 28th. Jose Martin Sil-Acosta,
a Mexican citizen, pled guilty but then jumped bond on 9/11/02
and is probably back in Mexico now. Three others have pled guilty,
another 4 or 5 are expected to do the same. The DOJ stated the
sentences will be in the range of zero to six months. It does
not appear that deportation will be sought against these individuals.
Although the FBI was tipped off to the sabotage at Spirit Aviation
back in September of 2001, it appears a connection could not
be made between those crimes and specific individuals employed
there. Sources tell me the DOJ was not aware of the sabotage
that occurred at Spirit. The trial date for the rest of the indicted
mechanics is currently set for December 9th. Lastly, I asked
the DOJ, "did the indicted mechanics at Spirit have valid
FAA licenses? Or were those documents also fraudulent?"
The DOJ could not comment. Either way, the answer is not comforting.
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- The disturbing bottom line to all this ... is that there
was sabotage at Spirit Aviation, some possible suspects
have escaped prosecution, and those that will be sentenced will
be out on the streets by next summer.
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- Copyright Victor Trombettas and usread.com. All rights
reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten,
or redistributed without written permission from usread.com
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