Airline insecurity story of the day
CBS 2 HD has learned a monkey was apparently snuck into the United States with a passenger from Peru and let loose during a Spirit Airlines flight that landed at LaGuardia Airport Tuesday afternoon.
Officials say the monkey, a pygmy marmoset, apparently belonged to a male passenger from Lima, Peru. He bought the animal off the streets in Lima.
The man then smuggled the animal, which measures only about a foot tall, through security in Peru onto a flight to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He then got past security again when he took a connecting flight from there to New York City, and he even kept the monkey out in the open mid-flight.
Passengers of that flight say they noticed a small monkey clinging to the man’s ponytail during the flight and reported it to authorities.
Here’s what I don’t get:
Transportation Security Administration officials say the animal is so small it could have easily passed through security without detection, but they are investigating.
I can’t get my kids’ sippy cups and juice boxes past TSA. I’ve had to throw away toothpaste, hand lotion, and lip balm before boarding flights.
But a guy can sneak his living, breathing, furry pygmy marmoset onto two planes?
TSA: Tolerating Smuggled Animals
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From lettuce to monkeys
i guess that’s an improvement
I want to see that ponytail if it fooled TSA. That’s got to be one hell of a hairdo.
The monkey doesn’t show up on the scan as well my KaBar does…..
Maybe the screeners thought he was just happy to see them.
It was a cheeky monkey.
Perfect. I keep getting visions in my head of the movie “Outbreak.”
People can carry on small dogs and cats. These things are tiny.
Probably just carried it on the plane in a pocket.
The TSA checkers were probably just being extra cautious about not racial profiling either the Peruvian or the nice little monkey.
The continuing absurdity is stunning.
The TSA is a waste if money and a total joke in terms of security.
The TSA is a make work program for people with IQ’s around 70 that used to be on financial assistance.
If they got rid of the TSA, there would be no difference as they have flunked every test that has been conducted. I say fire them all and start Israeli type profiling that works.
Savings around 45 BILLION.
If the monkey had been made of cheese, they would have spotted the thing right off…
Come on Michelle, chill out, you know how dangerous your kid’s sippy cup is to the general public. s\
Pathetic.
Not only does this demonstrate the ineffectiveness of TSA in general, what this guy did was unlaful and dangerous. Monkeys can carry some pretty nasty diseases and, in the hands of someone with malevolent intent, could be made to carry some very nasty diseases. This was a serious security breach, beyond the patent absurdity of TSA failing to detect a foot-tall monkey.
He must not have gotten word: Yearly Kos ended a few days ago. No more monkeys needed…
(was that mean?)
I wonder if this is how Dennis Kucinich got into Chicago last night….
Under Chris Dodd’s hat…
Yes, but it was also funny.
You are forgiven.
When they told him there were jobs that ‘Americans just won’t do’, he didn’t realize ‘Organ Grinding’ is now a job in the meat industry. WE NEED THIS GUY!
And didn’t he have to clear customs too? Ya think they would have noticed the monkey sitting on his shoulder.
I can’t help but chuckle with the image of a 12 inch tall monkey, standing there at the security checkpoint, getting wanded, patted down, feet checked…..
lol jrl, and no Kidding Insomniac, lucky he didn’t bite someone.
Wonder what they serve Monkeys on Airlines? Animal Crackers?
That monkey got one hell of a dose if he went through the x-ray machine (especially more than once).
Is it my imagination or doe’s that Monkey look like Nancy Pelosi?
Actually – I suspect it’s MikeB…….
The sure can find those Jumbo size disposable lighters on passangers though.
Too busy inspecting some 7 year old little girl’s flip-flops to notice it, I guess.
Was the photo of the male passenger or the monkey? Kids that are able to sit on a parent’s lap generally fly free, so perhaps there was simply a strong family resemblance and presumption of relatedness.
If it sat on Chertoff’s head it would make a nice toupee – except for the extra set of eyes…
“I can’t get my kids’ sippy cups and juice boxes past TSA. I’ve had to throw away toothpaste, hand lotion, and lip balm before boarding flights…But a guy can sneak his living, breathing, furry pygmy marmoset onto two planes?”
The “shoe bomber” that failed to detonate his device on an America bound plane from England, managed to get it aboard that flight. That is why more closer attention is paid to people’s footwear, among other personal belongings. Does it make sense?….Later on a plot was discovered in England to sneak “prohibited items” disguised as inoffensive personal toiletries, liquids, among other substances. That is why the strict 3-1-1 protocol is MANDATORY. If you are offended because you had to throw away your juice, balm lip, and so on, here’s a link that will help you to better inform yourself for a more pleasant travel experience: http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm
The report in the news in regards to the incident states that..”The man then smuggled the animal, which measures only about a foot tall, through security in Peru onto a flight to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He then got past security again when he took a connecting flight from there to New York City, and he even kept the monkey out in the open mid-flight.”….the problem with that report is that it fails to mention that TSA does not conduct security protocols before boarding a USA-bound flight in Peru, where the flight originated. Peruvian security (as any other country) is responsible in preventing the offending monkey from getting aboard the aircraft. (I wonder what P.E.T.A. thinks about it.) Once the flight landed on Fort Lauderdale, Fla., it is ASSUMED by the readers (reporter?) that the passenger LEFT (stepped out of) the STERILE area of the terminal, which would require the traveling passenger to go thru the CHECKPOINT again. If the passenger came to the United States from an international flight, it most likely required him to go thru Customs, and then again thru the TSA passenger CHECKPOINT into the sterile area, to continue his flight to New York. I seriously doubt the passenger relocated the monkey into a body cavity to keep it from being seen by Customs/TSA security screeners. I could only imagine the cataclysmic reactions of the passengers if they had to submit to a body cavity search every time they fly. By the way, in case Mrs. Malking didn’t notice, the amount of TSA personnel hired for security at airports, is directly proportional to the amount of a Congress-approved budget. It equates to EFFICIENCY/EFFECTIVENESS by the performing screeners. Have you noticed that Senator Murtha got about 120 million dollars for his “pork party”?….I guess none was left for improving EFFICIENCY/EFFECTIVENESS at TSA……..
On August 8th, 2007 at 12:59 am, ScottyDog said:
“The TSA is a waste if money and a total joke in terms of security.The TSA is a make work program for people with IQ’s around 70 that used to be on financial assistance.If they got rid of the TSA, there would be no difference as they have flunked every test that has been conducted. I say fire them all and start Israeli type profiling that works.Savings around 45 BILLION.”……ok…GENIUS…what do you suggest…..people with Masters/Doctorate degrees to check your bag?……would you like a cup of coffee while you wait…sugar…cream…black?……Obviously your IQ is lower than 70….which will qualify you to rehire the previous screeners that allowed the Jihadists to conduct the 9/11 attacks in the first place. I guess it is safe to assume that the so called “people with IQ of 70 that used to be in financial assistance” were hired because they are stupid!!…and in financial distress. Is that a specific group in our society you are referring to?..black, Latino, Philippino?…. If you make it safely to your destination next time you fly, I guess you’d be indebted to your your lucky stars, you ingrate!!!
I am pretty sure TSA (and Customs) will learn from this incident, if found at fault, and incorporate the findings into the established security protocols. I am also pretty sure it will be another protocol that passengers will complain about. Enjoy your flight while others who are looking out for your safety have to put up with your whining.
Serving the people of the United States of America since 1982.
Rio
Semper Fi!
I can imagine the cataclysmic reaction to finding a monkey during one of those searches…
I still will whine as there is more than probable cause to not only whine but demand this sham of a group called TSA come to account. It swallows up taxpayers money, impedes domestic and international traffic, reduces safety by putting more pressure on airline dispatchers and pilots trying to maintain scheduling holding up a flight while some 83 year old Swedish grandmother is being strip searched. TSA personnel seem clearly to be taught rote methods and appear unable to think on their feet. The first time I had to fly under the new rule of your liquids in a clear zip lock, my wife had put them in a gallon clear zip lock. I was lectured, while the line was held up that it had to be a quart size zip lock. No doubt the safety litmus test. I’ve shared before about passing through gate E-14 in Dallas Fort Worth with a TSA employee in her hijab/burka running the wand over people and screening passengers. Gave me a warm fuzzy feeling. Can TSA tell me why other employees, male & female wear a standard uniform but this person NOT? All TSA employees should go through screen school in Israel and learn something.
Whatever, it’s a fist sized marmoset.
I thought the quote in the story I read was funny though. . when it was spotted in-flight perched on the man’s ponytail (once again, it’s a pretty damn small monkey if it can do that).
The passenger was asked “if he was aware he had a monkey on him“. That sent me into gales of laughter.
On August 8th, 2007 at 5:18 pm, almeehan said: I still will whine as there is more than probable cause to not only whine but demand this sham of a group called TSA come to account. It swallows up taxpayers money, impedes domestic and international traffic, reduces safety by putting more pressure on airline dispatchers and pilots trying to maintain scheduling holding up a flight while some 83 year old Swedish grandmother is being strip searched. TSA personnel seem clearly to be taught rote methods and appear unable to think on their feet.”
….you sure sound like someone that could work for Osama Bin Laden…honestly. Sacrifice SAFETY for the sake of EXPEDIENCY. Dam the personnel that have been trained to prevent another 9/11. It is not the terrorists that are the problem. It is the “sham of a group called TSA”. You may have forgotten the fact that two Russian airliners were blown out of the sky by two women who probably disguised themselves as being pregnant or perhaps….”some 83 year old Swedish grandmother”….Your training protocol on how to check for prohibited substances/items really shows. It is just amazing how people love to whine….juts for the sake of…….whining. If it bothers you that a ….”TSA employee in her hijab/burka running the wand over people and screening passengers. Gave me a warm fuzzy feeling.”…so the logical conclusion is that people that are required by their religious beliefs to wear certain kind of clothing while officiating their jobs, should be declared illegal…because it gives you a “warm fuzzy feeling”?….I guess all Muslims to you are as dangerous as Osama Bin Laden?…that is a non sequitur. You asked the question “Can TSA tell me why other employees, male & female wear a standard uniform but this person NOT?”…the answer is simple. All TSA wear standard TSA uniforms. You have to find a little amplitude in your narrow mind to realize that certain people with religious beliefs require them to wear specific types of clothing. There are women, due to their religious beliefs, that are not allowed to wear pants. They wear skirts, as specified by TSA rules and regulations in the uniform policies. Others wear head scarfs, Jewish yarmulkes, Indian (Hindu) head covering and so on. You cannot discriminate an employee performing their duties on the basis of their religious beliefs. Does that answer your question?……..it should…and you should have done so. Stop the whining and get along with the program..or as The Great One, Mark Levin would say, “What do you suggest, GENIUS?”. Obviously, you must be an expert on terrorism to call established screening protocols a sham since they don’t stand up to your “security expertise”. Your suggestions was….”All TSA employees should go through screen school in Israel and learn something.”…have you noticed that every single airliner flown by El Al, the Israeli airline, cannot be touched or even come closed by unauthorized personnel unless cleared by the airline? No worker, bag handler, fueler, ground personnel, can come close near their airliners while on the terminal? Just imagine the chaos if it were to happen to every airliner in the United States, specially in your case since your expediency is more important than safety. Israel security procedures/protocol are closely shared with that of the United States. By the way, after you land in Israel and the authorities at the airport deem you suspect to enter their country, they have the right not to let you in. Try that in United States. I am pretty sure the ACLU will come to your rescue. You can make your travel easier by educating yourself and preventing you from making an A** of yourself by visiting the fallowing site: http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm I am pretty sure your wife will know exactly how much is allowed in your precious bag. If you have a better way to travel SAFELY, come and step into the arena. Give suggestions that make sense. Get in touch with authorities. The protocols established by TSA has been design by terrorists EXPERTS, not by whining ignoramus posting anonymously on the web. You could also be a worker for Osama Bin Laden, adding to the pain Osama has created. Security at our airports is not a PERFECT system..and it never will. Reminds me of the “perfect wars” liberals want to wage against terrorism, where no one dies, gets hurts, bullets never get fired, bombs are never dropped, soldiers never suffer mentally, or terrorists and their families NEVER get offended. You want to know how to deal with terrorists and the threat they present?…ask the Israelis about Hamas, Islamic Jihad, PLO, and the rest. If they can spot a terrorist at a distance, they will lock a TOW missile in his butt from miles away and get the problem terminated. If Osama Bin Laden was a woman, Bill Clinton would have nailed her back in the 1990’s.
Have a nice flight and enjoy a safe destination….did I say stop whining?
Rio
Semper Fi!