Markey says student's act exposes air security gaps

WASHINGTON -- US Representative Edward J. Markey of Malden said yesterday that a 20-year-old college student's success in putting box cutters aboard two airplanes shows that America's air safety system has major flaws.

"Perfection may be unachievable, but mediocrity is unacceptable," Markey, a Democrat, said on CNN's "Late Edition."

Markey, a member of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, has long argued that the Bush administration has not done enough after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, to protect Americans as they travel.

Questions of air security became more prominent last week when Nathaniel Heatwole, a 20-year-old college student from Maryland, was charged with taking a dangerous weapon aboard an aircraft. He said he hid box cutters, bleach, matches, and modeling clay made to look like plastic explosives on two Southwest Airlines flights to highlight gaps in US air security.

Law enforcement officials did not appreciate the tip. Heatwole faces a 10-year prison sentence if convicted.

Also on "Late Edition," Transportation Security Administration spokesman Mark Hatfield said Heatwole was trying to bring attention to himself.

"He took an opportunity to seize the latest reality show, self-celebrity-making tactic and get himself out in front of the news," Hatfield said. "I'm confident that justice will be served in this case."

Rather than giving Heatwole jail time, Markey has suggested that he be required to work for the transportation agency.

"This young man was seeking no attention at all," Markey said. "He wasn't trying to embarrass TSA. The problem that he identified is that TSA had no system for actually collating the dots."

After discovering the items on the planes, the agency ordered an inspection of more than 7,000 passenger planes. Heatwole had e-mailed the agency, letting them know what he had done.

Hatfield said yesterday that the agency should have responded to Heatwole's e-mail sooner, saying: "There was a delay in responding to that e-mail. We're the first to say that's unacceptable. We've taken steps to change that."

Those changes, Markey said, should be credited to Heatwole.

"This young man has provided a huge public service, because TSA has now been forced to completely overhaul the way in which they deal with e-mail and other messages," Markey said.

He added that it is "shocking" that such important changes are only now being implemented.

Heatwole returned to Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C., on Thursday. A news release from the school said he "has returned to his normal academic and campus life routines."

The next hearing for Heatwole, who had been released without bail, is scheduled for Nov. 10. Meanwhile, the debate he reignited in Washington continued. Hatfield said air security has been improved dramatically since the Sept. 11 attacks, but Markey said not enough has been done.

"It's a reality moment for the Bush administration, for the Department of Homeland Security, that this kind of problem could still exist in connecting the dots that existed before Sept. 11," Markey said.

Material from wire services was used in this report.