Lawmakers and regulators respond to airport crisis
killed wounded six.
Wasserman Schultz, a Democrat whose district includes the airport, outlined her plans in broad terms, saying she is still gathering information and consulting with security experts and regulators.
“I want to prevent this tragedy from ever happening again, here or in any other airport in America,” Wasserman Schultz said.
Another South Florida congresswoman threw her support behind efforts to strengthen the laws surrounding airport security and emergency response. five and Passengers told the Sun Sentinel they struggled throughout the 12-hour ordeal to get information on what the threat was, what authorities were doing to address it, or how long they might be stranded.
Many told the Sun Sentinel that airport workers they approached were equally uninformed and could provide little to no useful information.
Wasserman Schultz said she would also push the Congress to insist on comprehensive training for airport workers. “Training now seems to be rather cursory or almost none at all,” she said. Workers should learn how to keep themselves safe and how to help guide and inform passengers.
Rep. Wilson agreed that revised training is necessary for TSA workers and others at the airport.
TSA agents wear uniforms that can be mistaken for law enforcement, but they are not armed and are instructed to run or hide when confronted with a possible shooter.
“While it is true that TSA officers are not members of law enforcement, I think it’s safe to assume that most passengers would expect them, as well as other airport and airline personnel, to provide some sort of guidance during a crisis and try to help create calm,” Wilson said in an email to the Sun Sentinel.
Esteban Santiago, the accused gunman in Fort Lauderdale, flew one-way from Alaska, checking only his semi-automatic pistol and ammunition. He then allegedly retrieved the gun from the baggage carousel, loaded it in a bathroom, and came out and killed five tourists.