Investigations
FAA Inspector Charged with Bypassing Atlanta Airport Security Requirements
USAO, Northern District of GeorgiaOn April 24, 2015, Ernest E. Abbott, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Inspector, Atlanta Division, was charged in U.S. District Court, Atlanta, Georgia, with unlawfully entering Hartsfield Jackson International Airport and an airplane without submitting to the required security requirements for all passengers.
On January 13, 2015, Abbott, while on official duty, attempted to board a commercial flight from La Guardia, NY, to Atlanta, GA, when Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Agents detected a firearm in Abbott's carry-on luggage. Abbott was charged by New York authorities with unlawfully possessing a firearm. A subsequent investigation revealed that on January 12, 2015, Abbott flew from Atlanta to New York. Abbott allegedly used his Hartsfield Jackson International Airport employee access card to bypass TSA passenger security screening in Atlanta for the outbound flight to New York.
This investigation was conducted jointly with TSA, with assistance from the FBI and the FAA.
Note: Indictments, informations, and criminal complaints are only accusations by the Government. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.