American Airlines Apologize To Veep for Humiliation

27 June 2011

The United States Ambassador to Liberia, Mrs. Linda Thomas-Greenfield on Friday, June 24 called on Vice President Joseph N. Boakai, Sr. at his Capitol Building office to apologize for last Wednesday’s incident at the Roberts International Airport.

Ambassador Greenfield’s visit and apology followed similar apology by the administration of the Delta Lines to the Liberian vice president.

The US envoy and the Delta Airlines management were apologizing to VP Boakai over the insistence of a Delta Airline security officer to frisk and screen the Liberian vice president prior to boarding the Delta Airlines flight to the US.

The U.S envoy assured the Liberian Vice President that measures were being put in place to ensure that such incidents were not be repeated.

Vice President Boakai accepted the apology, but insists that Delta Airline should reduce the apology they offered him in Atlanta, Georgia into writing, adding, “The verbal apology is not sufficient.”

On Wednesday, June 15, a Delta Airline Security Officer Jorde Vargas insisted that Vice President Boakai who was en route to the United States should undergo search and screening like any other ordinary passenger before he could board the plane.

The incident was put under control upon the intervention of the Director of the Liberian Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA), Mr. Archie Williams.

At a meeting held at Atlanta Airport on June 21, the Management of Delta Airlines apologized to Vice President Boakai for the embarrassment caused him, but insisted that the airline security was simply following rules established by the Transport Safety Administration (TSA) of the United States.

Delta Airline Senior Vice President for Corporate Safety and Security, Mr. Kenneth Hylander said even though it was not Delta’s desire to humiliate  the Vice President, they were bound by the rules which do not exempt the Vice President and other senior government officials from searches before boarding an American carrier.

The Transport Safety Administration (TSA) Attaché for West Africa, Ms. Bert Williams, who also attended the meeting, blamed the incident on the alleged failure of the Liberia Aviation Authority to properly request an exemption for the Vice President.

He observed that until a formal request is made to exempt the Vice President, Chief Justice, Speaker and Senate President Pro-Tempore, all these officials would have to be screened before boarding Delta Flights.

Delta Airlines has sent a written apology to Vice President Joseph N. Boakai, Sr. for the Wednesday, June 15 incident at the Roberts International Airport in which the airline’s security insisted on searching and screening the Vice President before he could board the flight.

“I am writing to apologize for the misunderstanding that resulted in relation to the security screening that you underwent prior to your travel on Delta’s flight from Monrovia in June 15,” the Senior Vice President of Delta Airlines for Corporate Safety, Security and Compliance, Mr. Kenneth J. Hylander said in the letter dated June 22, 2011.

Mr. Hylander however reiterated that as was discussed with U.S Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Representative Bert Williams in Atlanta on June 21, Delta’s security contractor at the Roberts International Airport “correctly followed the security procedures required by TSA.”

“While Delta and ISDS had no choice in the matter, we still regret any embarrassment you were caused,” Mr. Hylander added.

He then encouraged the Government of Liberia to follow up directly with the U.S Government to complete the procedures required for the Vice President and other appropriate Liberian officials to be exempted from TSA screening requirements in the future.

Mr. Hylander added that “while decisions regarding screening exemptions rest solely with the U.S Government, Delta would be pleased to facilitate in any way possible.”

On Wednesday, June 15, a Delta Airline Security Officer, Jorde Vargas, insisted that Vice President Boakai who was enroute to the United States should undergo search and screening like any other ordinary passenger before he could board the plane.

The incident was put under control upon the intervention of the Director of the Liberian Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA), Mr. Archie Williams.

At a meeting held at Atlanta Airport on June 21, the Management of Delta Airlines apologized verbally to Vice President Boakai for the embarrassment caused him, but the Vice President asked that the apology be reduced into writing.

AllAfrica – All the Time