More than 3,000 checked bags miss flights leaving Phoenix airport

PHOENIX — More than 3,000 checked bags missed their outbound flights in Phoenix on Thursday because of a problem with a screening system at Sky Harbor International Airport, officials with Transportation Security Administration said.

“TSA is experiencing significant, unprecedented technical issues with its computer server allowing the automated screening of checked bags for explosives,” TSA spokesman Nico Melendez said in a statement.

Melendez didn’t elaborate on the problem, which began about 6:45 a.m. and only affected Sky Harbor.

There was no immediate timetable for the problem to be fixed. But Melendez said TSA hoped to be back online shortly and that it wasn’t a safety issue.

“TSA is working diligently with our airline and airport partners and using alternative screening tools to screen bags, though that method are not as efficient as our automated system,” Melendez added. “TSA is currently bringing additional canine units from other airports and bringing in network specialists to address the situation and keep passengers safe and screen all bags.”

According to the TSA, the inline baggage systems handle the bulk of checked luggage. When everything is working properly only about 10 percent of all checked bags are hand-searched by TSA officers.

Julie Rodriguez, a Sky Harbor spokeswoman, said the problem existed in all three of the airport’s terminals and passengers were being advised to avoid checking luggage if possible.

SOME CHECKED BAGS COMING TO MCCARRAN

As of Thursday evening, hundreds of bags were sitting in a parking lot that is usually used for special events. Workers were loading them onto semi-trailers.

Rodriguez said those bags were slated for ground transportation to airports in Tucson and San Diego and then would be screened and flown to their destinations.

“We are not seeing widespread flight delays, but many checked bags are missing flights,” Rodriguez said.

Also, McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas is receiving some of those checked bags, said McCarran spokeswoman Christine Crews.

“We’ve been advised that this will not interfere with operations,” Crews said, adding the airport also isn’t expecting any delays in customer service because of the bags.

FRUSTRATED PASSENGERS

Cody Desjadon, 22, of Prescott, Arizona, arrived at the airport shortly after 5 p.m. and knew something was off when he saw a parking lot full of police, dogs, and suitcases. He and his girlfriend, Hannah Brinser, 19, then learned at a Southwest ticket counter that her large suitcase would take two to three days to get to their destination in Missouri.

“Our trip is three days,” Desjadon said.

The couple’s main concern was trying to stuff several wrapped gifts for aunts, grandparents and cousins into their two carry-ons.

“It’s definitely unfortunate because we’re going for a graduation and there’s lots of gifts for the graduation. I don’t know if we can fit them all,” Desjadon said.

Desjadon said a lot of other passengers were more frustrated than he was.

“I’ve heard every swear word known to man in the last 15 minutes,” he said.

Sixteen airlines fly in and out of Sky Harbor, which is one of the nation’s busiest airports. Nearly 4.3 million passengers traveled through Sky Harbor in March, making it the airport’s busiest month ever.

Review-Journal reporter Max Michor contributed to this report.