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A tense moment at one of the country’s busiest airports was captured on surveillance footage, which caught the moment an individual attempted to breach a TSA checkpoint. Swift actions by a bystander, where he promptly tackled the suspect to the ground, saw the suspect subdued, and then later charged with avoiding security measures and simple battery.
The suspect, Fabian Leon, is seen attempting to rush through the airport before attempting to bypass airport security at 
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Shortly after making his way through the screening gate, a bystander quickly rushed into action, grabbing him from behind and lifting him into the air before throwing him to the ground.
Swift Action By A Member Of Public
As reported by Fox News, the suspect is shown to approach the security screening area at a pace before aggressively pushing past the TSA agent, which subsequently knocked the officer to the ground. The TSA officer yelled ‘breach’, which then saw a bystander turn around and jump into action.
The bystander, Mark Thomas, lunged at Leon, grabbing him from behind and lifting him into the air before slamming the suspect’s body onto the ground. Thomas shared this statement to Fox 5:
“I saw him knock over the first dude and then a TSA agent tried to grab him, and once he was going to get past me, I was just like, okay, I’ll just take over if I can.”
Following the incident, Leon then acted ‘oddly calm’ before being detained and taken into police custody. Reports have suggested that he was somewhat ‘detached’ from the situation following the incident. Police have confirmed that Leon had been under the influence of both drugs and alcohol.
Detained In A Chair
Once in the hands of the relevant authorities, Leon was secured and detained in a chair at the scene, which saw several police officers attend. Within the initial scuffle, there are reports that three police officers were assaulted. This has raised the question if airports require an increased police presence to deal with situations such as this.
Fabian Leon, a 40-year-old, now faces multiple charges, including simple battery and avoiding security measures. Thomas, the individual who stepped and tackled Leon to the ground, noted to Fox 5 that he was unsure of how many checkpoints Leon had passed before this incident, and noted that had more police presence been around at the time, it would have been likely that Thomas would not have needed to step in and undertake such action.
Passengers are required to pass through airport security before being permitted to board a scheduled flight as this ensures the safety og all onboard by preventing weapons, dangerous goods, or prohibited items from entering the aircraft cabin. This mandatory layer of defence minimizes the threats of terrorism or hijacking, and makes sure that all travelers are inspected as per aviation standards.
Man Arrested For Attacking TSA Officer In Miami Caused Flight Diversion 1 Day Prior
The man attacked an officer and a civilian.
Why We Pass Through Airport Security
As noted above, security screening is a critical layer of defence to keep our skies safe. The key reasons passengers must pass through airport security before their flight are to detect prohibited items in passengers’ carry on luggage or on their persons. Both passengers and crew are required to pass through these preflight checks.
These procedures are designed to stop threats such as terrorism or hijacking and ensure passengers cannot bring on prohibited items such as weapons or hazardous materials. Screening monitors can detect liquids, aerosols, or gels, which prevent the smuggling of liquid explosives that may not always be detectable. This layer of security ensures compliance with global aviation regulations and provides a consistent level of security across airports around the world. This measure helps support public confidence in air travel by providing a safe and secure environment.
If a person breaches airport security, the consequences of this are immediate and can result in operational impacts, such as terminal lockdown or the requirement of re-screening, as ‘airside’ is no longer a ‘sterile area’. In major breaches, this can lead to all those who have passed through security, including those who have already boarded aircraft, being offloaded and re-screened. In this case, fortunately, Leon did not make it past the airport security screening area, and the airport did not face a full breach of the airside portion of the terminal.
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