U.S. Air Marshal Blows His Cover While Boarding Plane
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CHICAGO — A U.S. air marshal removed himself from a Southwest Airlines flight set to depart Midway Airport on Thursday after he dropped a clip of bullets on the floor of the plane, revealing his undercover role to fellow passengers, airline officials said.
The Federal Air Marshal Service declined to confirm the specific circumstances, but agency spokesman Dave Adams said: “We were advised that an ammo clip was located and turned over to the Transportation Security Administration.”
The marshal had arrived at Midway on a flight from Philadelphia, and he was boarding the Southwest flight bound for Kansas City, Mo., when “the clip to his firearm dropped on the floor and bullets were rolling around,” Southwest spokeswoman Whitney Eichinger said. “Since he was no longer traveling incognito, he decided not to continue on the flight to Kansas City.”
No extra screening of passengers was necessary because officials determined that the bullets belonged to the air marshal, she said.
The flight to Kansas City was delayed by 45 minutes because of the incident, she said.
Air Marshal Service officials do not discuss their operations or confirm what flights they assign personnel to work.
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