ATLANTA -- Authorities are calling for security changes at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport after uncovering an alleged long-running gun smuggling operation.
With 129 seized guns displayed in front of them, the FBI and New York police detailed Tuesday what they call an egregious breach of security at Atlanta's airport.
"They put guns on the plane this time," New York King's County District Attorney Kenneth Thompson said. "They could have easily put a bomb on one of those planes."
The FBI said Delta baggage handler Eugene Harvey and Mark Henry, a former employee, smuggled guns 20 times through Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
Officials said Harvey would park inside a Delta employee lot and board a bus that took him directly into a secure area of the airport.
At the same time, Henry would book a flight -- often using a buddy pass from his mom.
Security cameras captured Harvey passing through TSA security like any other passenger. He would reportedly text with Harvey to arrange a swap of the bag of the guns. Sometimes the exchange took place in a bathroom.
The feds say Henry would board then plane, touchdown in New York and sell the guns. Federal authorities suspect Henry has been doing smuggling guns for upwards of five years.
"We want to make sure no one can get a gun into an airport everyone is being screened," Thompson said.
Delta says it is co-operating with authorities in this investigation.
"We take seriously any activity that fails to uphold our strict commitment to the safety and security of our customers and employees," Delta said in a statement.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport spokesperson Reese McCranie issued a statement saying:
"At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, safety and security are our highest priority. We have cooperated fully with the FBI, the TSA and other agencies during the course of this investigation, and we will continue to cooperate. As part of the TSA- and Airport-approved multi-layered security plan, all employees must pass extensive criminal history record checks, security threat assessments, and security training prior to being approved for access to secured areas. Additionally, employees are subjected to continuous vetting and random inspections. In light of these recent events, we are reviewing the security plan and will make the appropriate changes to prevent future incidents of this nature."
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