Flights delayed, travelers rescreened at Louisville airport after security worker falls asleep

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Early morning flights out of Louisville International Airport were delayed yesterday so 1,000 passengers could be rescreened because a security employee was reported to have fallen asleep, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

An employee reported he thought there had been a security breach, said Rande Swann, an airport spokeswoman.

"Apparently a screener was found early this morning to be sleeping at his or her post. And the result, the concourse had to be cleared and a number of passengers rescreened," said Kathleen Bergen, a spokeswoman for the FAA in Atlanta.

Jim Mitchell, a spokesman for the federal Transportation Security Administration, said the employee was fired by Globe Aviation, the company that handles airport security.

The airport has 34 scheduled departures between 6 and 10 a.m., and almost all airlines held their flights, Swann said. Nine flights departed before the delays began and were not affected, she said.

Bergen said about 1,000 people had to go through the security screening a second time. By about 9:30 a.m., a line stretched more than 200 yards through the terminal, extending past the ticketing stations and doubling back.

"That just happens, I guess," said Rick Ahlrichs, of Cincinnati.

Susan Rider, of Louisville, vice president of sales for a software company, was headed to Atlanta on business and had been in line for 2 1/2 hours.

"I've missed two meetings," she said. "It's costing my company a lot of money."