Missing luggage belonging to Israeli security detail found at LAX, but at least one gun is missing

Lost luggage that belonged to security officials for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been found by American Airlines officials at Los Angeles International Airport, but at least one handgun that was packed in the baggage is missing, officials said Tuesday.

American Airlines workers at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York apparently misrouted the luggage, which was supposed to be placed on a connecting flight to Washington, D.C., where Netanyahu is meeting with President Obama at the White House.

Earlier news reports indicated that four Glock 9-millimeter pistols were missing, but airline officials say they believe there is only one weapon that remains unaccounted for.

The Israeli Consulate has referred all media inquiries to American Airlines.

“When you have a situation related to security, we allow the appropriate law enforcement agencies to handle the situation, and we refrain from commenting publicly, so that we don’t hamper an investigation,” according to a prepared statement by the airline.

Port Authority police in New York are investigating to determine whether any of the weapons were stolen at JFK or at another airport along the way, including LAX.

Security protocols require airline passengers with firearms to pack them in their bags and check them in at ticket counters.

Sgt. Belinda Nettles, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles airport police, said the department has discussed the matter with American Airlines, but she could not provide further details.

-- Dan Weikel

Comments

[MissMarple]

That means, a baggage handler at Kennedy opened a bag, and took out a gun. A baggage handler now has an Israeli Glock, because there are still thefts by employees at Kennedy. I suggest we let Mossad find the thief if the NYPD can't.

Israel is a friend, and there will be no repercussions. What if it had been another country who isn't very happy with us, or very much dislikes us? What if it had been Iranians who had been at the UN, who were flying to France?

[kuruc]

israeli security detail ? how many firearms do they carry on their person?

[William Harper]

Four Glocks in one bag? Nice of the thief to only steal one of them.

[mindee]

So guns are supposed to be "checked in" at the ticket counter, then put back into an UNLOCKED suitcase? When tons of stuff is stolen and missing on a regular basis, including very valuable items.

We know the average person is forced to be vulnerable to theft because employees of airlines and airport baggage handlers do steal - but guns, too, even by the "security detail" of another nation? This is so pathetic. Meanwhile, we ordinary people are forced to walk barefoot, be virtually strip-searched, take no water on board however hot or delayed a flight, nor be entitled to get any unless we're delayed 3 hours or more -

Worse, many airlines require us to check even valuables because they're cutting the size of carryons even as they charge for even one checked bag. This is another reason to fear and dread traveling, and proof that while the average citizen is subject to every inconvenience and even health risk, the airlines make our skies safe for the most dangerous criminals with access to the most sensitive contraband and "privileged" luggage.

[primo]

Ho-Hum
another day at the airport
where the motivation to come to work is: well,what can we steal today ?
Ho=Hum

[Joe]

People would be better advised to send their luggage via FedEx or UPS. Not surprisingly, the unionized airline workers are thieves...just like every other union in America.

[just saying]

Welcome to the club. I've had many items taken out of my luggage.... a camera, several IPods, shoes etc. It does no good to complain or fill out forms. Not being able to lock your luggage is like an open market for those handlers.

[Minnesota Mike]

Mr. Harper, I see "lost luggage", not "one bag". It was Netanyahu's security detail, which I'd think would be more than one person. I'd guess that at least several identically routed bags were, well, "accidentally" rerouted. Maybe the person who did this didn't have time to dig through them all, no matter how many were rerouted. Or maybe the guy was all excited about scoring himself a Glock and didn't even think to look for more. Maybe it's a vast conspiracy that involved dozens of deaths internationally but we'll never hear of any more of it because you know how us citizens only ever get to learn of a small fraction of all the skullduggery going on...

[Adam]

"People would be better advised to send their luggage via FedEx or UPS. Not surprisingly, the unionized airline workers are thieves...just like every other union in America."

You're obviously unaware that UPS and FedEx are also unionized. However, that's also obviously not your biggest problem.

Do some math, corporations and management steal much more than unions do. Unions, by definition, represent the people.