Flier leaves airport in chaos

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A man who walked through the exit side of the airport security checkpoint, causing 1,800 people to be delayed Sunday, made his flight and took off before the FBI could question him.

The man, who flew to Salt Lake City, was interviewed by the FBI and released Sunday after his arrival in Utah. It was not immediately clear how he managed to enter the Albuquerque International Sunport terminal on the exit side and how he made it onto a flight that then was allowed to take off.

Maggie Santiago, spokeswoman for the Transportation Security Administration in Albuquerque, said Monday that the FBI decided not to pursue criminal charges against the man but said her agency is still investigating whether to pursue civil penalties.

Special Agent Bill Elwell, spokesman for the FBI in Albuquerque, said the Utah passenger actually did go through security.

"The problem is that he went back through the exit to make contact with some relatives — and then re-entered through the exit," Elwell said.

"He was interviewed in Salt Lake City by our agent. That was after we had been called by TSA," Elwell said.

A TSA agent was present during the interview, as well, he said.

The passenger "was very amenable to the interview," he added.

Because of the incident, 1,800 travelers were delayed for a matter of hours, including many who had already been cleared through the checkpoint and had to go through it again.

The breach occurred around 10:30 a.m., and a few minutes elapsed before the breach was discovered, allowing the errant traveler to make it to his flight.

"We have lots of layers of security, so fortunately we were able to identify him," Santiago said.

Eighteen departing planes were delayed up to two hours, she said, but the flight the man in question boarded was not among them.