JFK chaos was ‘blind’ panic

PORT AUTHORITY cops were stymied by lack of access to Transportation Security Administration surveillance footage when they tried to quell a mass panic at Kennedy Airport, union members said Saturday.

The Port Authority Police Department’s response to false reports of shots fired on Aug. 14 has been hotly criticized and Gov. Cuomo has called for a review.

The false alarm was caused by a large group cheering on sprinter Usain Bolt’s run for Olympic gold. Port Authority cops would have realized what was going on quicker if surveillance cameras fed to one location, according to the Alliance of Airport Police Officers.

Paul Nunziato of the Port Authority Police Benevolent Association said officers were “basically blind” when they responded .

“We are sick and tired of the Monday morning quarterbacking,” he said. “Our calls for access to all cameras have been ignored.”

“Typically TSA operates and maintains cameras positioned at checkpoints and not cameras positioned elsewhere,” the TSA said in a statement. “We partner with local law enforcement to provide access to our cameras.”