Whistleblowing ‘Patriot Pilot’ Reveals Identity After Exposing Lapses in Security
- Posted on December 28, 2010 at 8:15pm by
Meredith Jessup
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The California commercial airline pilot who was targeted by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) after he posted behind-the-scenes videos critical of airport security has come forward to reveal his true identity.
Chris Liu, the self-styled “Patriot Pilot,” says he was just trying to help improve airport security when he posted cell phone footage pointing to security loopholes at San Francisco International Airport. Since he published his video via YouTube, the pilot has been under federal investigation and had his federally issued firearm confiscated.
Initially, Liu says he was hesitant to identify himself in fear of retaliation, but now says he‘s going public in hopes of drawing more attention to what he believes are majority flaws in security at America’s airports.
“I just wanted to show the disparity because they added another level of screening upstairs and downstairs they were just using the card swipe,” Liu says, pointing out how air passengers and crew face rigorous security checks while airport ground crews go unscrutinized.
The airport, however, says that Liu’s videos present “false and misleading information” and the TSA says the federal government remains “confident” in its airport security measures.


















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Comments (46)
grayhaired vet
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:45amI know that this is slightly off the subject, but please bear with me for a moment because the subjects are related. I’ve read numerous comments on this and other blogs questioning the real reason behind the Wikileaks information releases. If you do your homework on George Soros, Progressivism and the American Communist Party, you’ll quickly discover that they all share numerous goals to achieve their ends.(1) Discredit the democratic form of government.(ie.Our leaders past and present) (2) Discredit our history, (3)) Discredit capitalism and in the process, corporate America and wall street, and last but not lease the biggie,(3) Discredit our military.
Report Post »THE RELEASE OF ALL OF THIS INFORMATION RIGHT NOW IS NOT A COINCIDENCE. Everything that is happening has been planned and is now being executed, as scheduled. The same puppet masters that are pulling the strings of this president and his administration are currently standing behind the curtain and pulling these strings, as well. Fortunately, many have already figured out what is happening and more and more are waking up everyday.
grayhaired vet
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:53amBig Sis, the TSA and the rest of the Obamabots just hate being shown for who and what they really are. Every time an incident like this is uncovered, it is immediately swept under the rug. (Anybody remember the FT. Hood bomber?????? What happened to him? or The Black Panther’s little voting site intimidation scandal? Or the whistle blower at the DOJ who explained the new racist policies that have been implemented? ) All that I’m saying is, if we expect honesty and transparency from a group that has recurrently been proven to be the exact opposite, we’re being totally unrealistic. When you elect dishonest scum, this is what you get. Scum in, scum out. And, BTW-This won’t resonate with even many conservatives until a disaster (linked to the things the whistle blowers are warning us about) impacts them personally. Then, it will be too late. Bend over and hold your ankles folks, it’s only a matter of time.
Report Post »temple62
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:35amNew Motto of Homeland Security, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell as it might reveal that Napolitano and crew are truly CLUELESS”
Report Post »Sounding Off
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:19amWhile casting no disparity on any one person nor the intentions of the TSA, it should be obvious to all that the TSA is currently a prime example of a runaway, bloated, power hungry bureaucracy that should not only be reined in but abolished. Yet you will probably never meet the persons responsible for this debacle, the ones who undoubtedly are not subject to TSA screening.
There are 10’s if not 100’s of thousands of travelers screened by TSA each and every day. Most checks are done reasonably and in the true interest of safety. Remember though that TSA field agents are people, they get tired and have bad days just like the rest of us so please don‘t take your anger, indignation and frustration out on these individuals. These are the foot soldiers, the fault lies not with them but the leadership (or lack of) that they work under. They are to be appreciated for doing a difficult job under difficult conditions.
That being said the TSA has a lot to answer for. It’s leaders and administrators bear the responsibility, for the seemingly Gestapo like tactics used to save us from an enemy that as of yet they have failed to detect or even come into contact with. As a result of TSA’s band aid approach to security one can only conclude it to be an agency with plenty of show and no substance.
Despite the billions spent on security machines in airports, they have yet to catch a single terrorist while letting several potential terrorists and real security risks pass through unmolested. Meanwhile the south west border starves for the resources to seal off a valid and urgent threat to national security and the public.
TSA standards and policy are set without oversight, without debate and without public input. Procedures can change on a whim and the public receives little or no notice (like that 10,000 fine) and there is no legal recourse of which I am aware.
Often certain groups are exempted for political reasons while the ordinary citizenry, deemed less trustworthy must go through the screening process. Recently it was discovered that the Mexican drug cartels have been using persons with trusted traveler clearances to conduct business because such people are not normally subjected to the usual screening procedures. Sounds like a loophole for the “elite” to me.
While taking revealing scanner photo’s of innocent travelers which are supposed to be destroyed but evidently are not, to pat downs (or as some call them feel ups) a police officer would not get away with, TSA’s methods are at best marginal in a security viewpoint and highly intrusive. As virtually any veteran police officer will tell you, objects are sometimes hidden by criminals in body cavities such as knives, derringers and even explosives. Objects secreted in these body cavities are not detectable by a pat down nor are they visible in these scans. What to do next, every passenger has to go through a body cavity search?
While racial profiling is prohibited by the 5th and 14th amendments to the US Constitution but regional profiling is not. Subjecting incoming foreigners from nations that harbor terrorists to additional scrutiny is not a matter of being discriminatory it is a matter of common sense. After all, would you open the doors to your home and allow a possible mass murderer to come and go as they pleased? Would you feel safe for your family, your children? Essentially that is what is happening at the entry points of this country.
Part of the reason for this is not TSA’s fault, it is merely following the policy of the executive branch. Terrified of being called racist, the administration treats Muslim issues with kid gloves, going overboard in many cases to appease them. Many are the news articles that demonstrate this. In psychiatric circles, a phobia referred to as an unreasonable fear. I am not a racist any more than anyone else. Islamaphobia is a real, but it is not merely the fear of terrorist Muslims, it is the fear of legal action at the slightest inconvenience. To those Muslims who may take offense to this I say YOU have the power to change it, raise your voices against those who murder innocents instead of looking the other way.
I have no idea what the procedure is for ensuring the safety of those who’s religion prevents pat downs and scanning. I am not a Muslim, but it is my understanding that some Muslim females wear traditional garb to deliberately disguise their form. Images taken on them via scanner are prohibited by their religion as are hand methods used to determine if they have contraband under it (pat downs). Or are they just given a free pass? Perhaps someone could enlighten me.
Part of the problem is that when the TSA took over airport security, it needed people to fill it’s ranks FAST. There was no time for training, so the TSA grandfathered the vast majority of airport security workers without proper screening or training with the intention of performing remedial training at a later date. But it appears that if additional training occurred, it happened sporadically.
Just a while ago a man boarded a plane in Houston with a fully loaded Glock (semi-auto handgun) and who can forget the Latex Man from Korea who boarded as an old American man and left as a young Korean? Both passed right through security and were never stopped. I am thankful for all concerned that they had no ill intentions.
While the TSA continues to allow potential criminals to slip by, they are ever alert to challenge law abiding citizens, children, the aged and the disabled. TSA agents have had disabled persons remove prosthetics including leg and breast prosthetics, have given feel ups or pat downs to children as young as 3, pulled people over for additional screening because they did not look right and searched 80 yr old women. Oh and you do have a choice to refuse, of course you are subject to a civil suit and a $10,000 fine.
I learned of a young boy who was strip searched by TSA. The head of Homeland Security said the child was strip searched because he set off a gate. When that was found to be inaccurate, the story changed to him being singled out because he had bulky clothing, but the video (currently available on the web) shows him in a T-shirt.
Nor is he alone, an actress was recently singled out for special screening for no reason she said other than they wanted a look at her body. Then perhaps the worst of all is a case 2 yrs ago of a 3 yr old groped and fondled by a Tennessee TSA agent. The incident was caught on video. Also worthy of note a TSA agent was fired and arrested on child pornography charges, he had the pictures of 10,000 children on his computer. We teach our kids to tell us when someone touches them in inappropriate places. It is drilled into
their heads in school. Then we say you have to let the man touch you so you can get on the plane. I would love to have some psychiatrist comment on what that does to the child’s mind, the confusion and trauma and psychological damage it causes must be severe.(don’t believe me? Check the links or do your own search on TSA abuse)
From all the evidence it is clear to any thinking and reasoning person that the TSA is a failure in it’s mission. Worse yet it tramples upon the rights of the citizenry in a heavy handed manner and steals resources from other more urgent matters (like securing the southern borders).
They have collected several thousand nail files, bottles of shampoo, perfume and other personal and benign articles from travelers. But to date, I know of not 1 single terrorist that has been caught, captured or even detected by TSA personnel.
Posted in the airport at the entrances and directly before security checkpoints, it would explain a travelers rights and the extent and limits of TSA authority and penalties for non-compliance. It would also provide information pertaining to who is directing TSA personnel on the site and to filing a complaint or an appeal.
If you feel the urge to vent, vent instead to Ron Paul @ Ron Paul.com, word has it he is pushing for major TSA reform.
http://pleaseremoveyourshoesmovie.com/content/facts
http://www.prisonplanet.com/tsa-admits-lying-about-naked-boy-controversy.html
http://www.infowars.com/tsa-too-busy-groping-perving-playing-god-to-notice-guns-and-bombs/
http://www.nydailynews.com/travel/2010/11/17/2010-11-17_stop_touching_me_tsas_security_patdown_of_3yearold_girl_caught_on_camera_.html
http://tv.breitbart.com/ohio-woman-describes-sexual-assault-by-tsa-agent/
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/r/26165594/detail.html
http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/TPV3/Voices.php/2010/11/14/tsa-promises-10-000-fine-for-refusing-se
Report Post »jbl8199
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:06amAnyone notice that he didn’t come out and just say if that actually was the door leading to the lunchroom or not? He should have just said yes or no to that question, but the lawyer jumped in and didn’t even really answer the question. Sounds to me like something else is going on here we don’t know about besides just airport security.
Report Post »mrcritic
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:42amI worked for ASA airlines as a ramp agent out of OKC and he’s right. We have unlimited access to the ramps with just a swipe of our id card. At night some of the guys would even go up and find a girl waiting for a late flight to come in and the next thing you know they were having sex in one of the planes that we were supposed to be cleaning. When I interviewed in Atlanta for the job the guy looked at my application went to another room for about 5 minutes and came back and hired me on the spot. No way did he have time to do a background check.
Report Post »leesrt
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:18amHis FDO credentials were not suspended; he resigned from the program because he didn’t want to go through the investigation caused by his actions.
You can’t just take video and post pictures of areas that are normally secured and then describe how easy it is to access them, and then publish it to the general public. If he had exposed this through the proper channels we wouldn’t be discussing his FDO status.
If this is a security breach it needed to be exposed but you can’t expose something like this and then expect to keep your “security” status until your intentions are investigated.
I‘m still observing this one because there’s more to this than meets the eye. He may seem like a patriot be something just doesn’t sit right.
As stated, there are multiple layers to the security at airports and most of them you don’t see. He has access because he has gone through an extensive background investigation in order to have the access he’s been granted. Show me a video of how some guy off the street gains access to the places and I’ll pay attention.
He fudged the truth about what door that really was so in my opinion if you lie about a small thing you’ll lie about a lot of other stuff to cover the original lie. At what point is the lie bigger than the truth? That’s why his lawyer had to jump in and redirect the question. If you tell the truth from the start you don’t need that. A simple “yes, that is the exact door that leads to the flight line” would suffice.
I’m actually more shocked at how easily some of you jump on the government conspiracy bandwagon. Give this time and you may be surprised at how things pan out.
The Wiki thing is not comparable because the leaker did nothing wrong, it’s the person who gave him the secure documents that committed the crime. In Liu‘s case he’s both people but there is no actual crime unless his security clearance stated he can’t reveal things that would compromise the security of Airports. If his clearance that he swore to uphold states that he will later be charged pending an internal investigation.
Report Post »If what he is saying is trued there were many channels he could have taken to get this addressed rather than putting it out for the whole world, including terrorist, to see. My wife is travelling right now and I’m not cool with that, no matter his intentions.
alshere
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 1:38amThis poor guy is going to get the worst from Big Sis and we know it. These progressives don’t like to be shown up and they will prove it with him. They don’t play by the rules ie regulate not legislate the new model. So pull up your sox Mr. Liu your in for a bumpy ride. They slash and burn when they are angry and you woke the sleeping dragon.
Report Post »lionslayer44
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 11:50pmwhy has the state of california suspended his ccw when he has broken no laws this is b.s.
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 11:49pmThey will continue to slip up and be exposed. Frankly, I don’t think that they care at this point, and that is what scares me. The wikileaks is another story. I am sure the progressives and soros are behind this. The dem’s are making this guy a hero, Why? Everything that they do has a ulterior motive behind it. As far as this guy goes I can’t see how this could benefit the progressives. This reveals yet another example of tax-payers money wasted. The only thing that I can think of that they might gain from this would be to cut back the TSA and Wham we get hit with a progressive planned terrorist attack. Then they could blame it on the conservatives somehow. Yet another “crisis” that they will not let go to waste.
Report Post »KeepTheTen
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 11:06pmLove this man…kudos for doin the right thing
Report Post »justice
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 10:46pmThank you Sir, for being honest enough to tell the story..
Report Post »Its Gonna Getcha
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 10:28pmSeems like the facts so far are quite scewed so far. As long as it means from this point forward they improve security measures, and there is no threat posed, I’m glad the truth gets out.
Report Post »stevlark
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 10:11pmlocal ground crew have SIDA (security identification display area) badges, as do local airline crew. both can access sterile area by “just swiping”. mr. liu has a SIDA badge for his “home” airport and can access the sterile area by “just swiping” at that airport. just like aircrew, san francisco ground crew have to go through security if they want to access the sterile area in say, dallas.
Report Post »mr. liu knows this. must have just slipped his mind and he failed to mentioned it. EVERYONE has an agenda, keep that in mind.
we want wikileaks shut down and prosecuted for revealing things that are illegal to make public, yet this pilot reveals information that is illegal to make public and we should treat him differently? what he did was illegal. ends justifying means? just because it fits our agenda? glenn has talked about that many times.
ivdad
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 10:48pmFirst wikileaks is in possession of stolen material. It doesn’t matter who took it, they are in possession of stolen material. Second, since when is photography in an airport a crime? I guess since it is showing the ineptitude of the TSA, and by proxy the entire Homeland Security Department. I wasn’t aware the ground crews got to work at other airports, than their home airport. Face it there have been plenty of reports of unauthorized people going into restricted area by swiping their cards, pushing open doors or just walking into the area, and there has not been the reaction from TSA as this has been. Wait until the TSA fully unionizes and see how long it takes to get through security with mandantory coffee breaks, lunch breaks ect.
Report Post »Tuesday
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 11:42pmWhy would the ground crew in San Francisco be in Dallas? Or vice-versa? Their place of work are not interchangeable.
You did not explain your point. Care to try again?
Report Post »N37BU6
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 9:19pmExposing security breaches = terrorism.
Report Post »spreadcommonsensenot pc
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 9:17pmTSA has been groping themselves————caught with their zipper down
Report Post »N34W118
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 9:00pmI agree with Liu. As a 36 year veteran Captain with a major U.S. airline, I have seen and reported violations to the TSA. My crew and I have also been overly scrutinized by the TSA for no reason while going through a check point to get to my aircraft and then see ground personal swipe a card and go to the same place I was going. Liu is not a “Patriot Pilot”, he’s just a pilot that observes things as he must do while doing his job in the cockpit. When things aren’t right he lets all the crew know what isn’t right. The TSA needs an overhaul and soon —— people are getting fed up with the knee jerk reaction of our government when it comes to security. ENOUGH POLITICAL CORRECT, go after those who fit the profile…………………….
Report Post »Pablo
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 9:21pmYes. We cannot and will not ever stop all of the weapons. But we can stop the terrorists, if we just bother to look for them.
Meanwhile, we’ll be ******* billions down a politically correct rathole and harassing people who have not done and will not do anything wrong. My blood boils everytime I see elderly crippled people trying to hobble through the metal detector, FOR SAFETY!!
Report Post »donedunn
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 8:54pmUnless he is independently wealthy, he may need some financial support to pay for his bravery.
Report Post »mossbrain
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 8:41pmThat guy is obviously a spy for China. Have you forgotten your mandate for profiling so soon?
Report Post »DashRipRock
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 8:38pmTSA is just racist towards Chinese Americans
Report Post »Tuesday
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 11:36pmYet the TSA’s bigger boss, Obama, has a taste for Chinese funds.
Report Post »NickDeringer
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 8:33pmWhistle blowers were heroes under Bush. Now they will be hunted down and destroyed by the MSM pose.
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 8:43pmWho was that Alinskyite who used to say
Report Post »“ dissent is patriotic ”
when Bush was Prez ?
spmcintyre
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 9:10pmthat would be Hillary Clinton, she screamed that dissent was the patriotic duty of the left against Bush…
Report Post »psycodad36
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 8:26pmno good deed goe’s unpunished.especially if it sheds a poor light over the ever perfcet fed
Report Post »CJG
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 8:23pmI don’t trust the government to get anything right. Much less security. Good job, Liu.
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 8:21pmOK someone help me out here.
Report Post »If I own a business ( say a grocery store ),
and someone comes into my store and secretly films cartons of milk past their expiration date,
and rats and roaches running around the store,
and then that person posts that video on youtube,
can I get youtube to shut down his account ,
and go busting his house
and have him persecuted ?
DagneyT
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 8:26pmOnly if you’re a Charlie Rangel, a John Conyers, a Maxine Waters….need I go on?
Report Post »CatB
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 8:28pmOnly if you are a GOVERNMENT STORE.
Report Post »Cemoto78
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 8:29pmGreat point. This guy should be treated as a patriot and held as an example of what we should all be doing, taking this seriously instead of half-hearted.
Report Post »Col. HawK
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 10:58pmResponding to ‘Help Request”…. Actually, NO, you are breaking the law, with expired milk for sale and rats and roaches running around. All the person with the Video Camera is doing, is warning other people to be careful when they go into your store. Let me add this, if you post a sign for example that reads ‘NO VIDEO TAPING” that must include the store owner…. it’s like the guy that posts “NO HUNTING” signs on his land, by Law, he is not allowed to then hunt on his own land. If you don’t have a video camera yet, I suggest you get one, you really might need it in the future, for pictures tell a thousand words, especially if it’s HD….. Cheers CHEEZWHIZ and Happy New Year!, but I like peanut butter a little better…. :)
Report Post »AzDebi
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 11:51pmMost excellent point! Answer: OF COURSE NOT…that’s not a part of THEIR PLAN…if you die of ptomaine, they’ll support your demise…
Report Post »DagneyT
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 8:21pmGod bless him. As the TSA says, “If you see something, say something.” He did, he was castigated, investigated, and very brave to come out into the open! May this strengthen the rest of us; when you see something, say something, and damn the consequences! As a Christian, being figuratively “stoned”, i.e. punished is not foreign, it’s just a matter of doing what is right. He did, God take care of him, in Jesus’ name!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 8:28pmI heard earlier that the TSA has accepted his resigation .. .what the H does that mean .. doesn‘t he work for the airline and doesn’t the government support Whistleblowers .. or is that just in the PUBLIC sector?
Report Post »guyperram
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 9:03pmSmoke and mirrors. He made the mistake of exposing the truth, the TSA is just another fraud. They put on the dog and pony show for the passengers, and really aren’t doing anything.
Report Post »What’s new?
RepubliCorp
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 9:06pm@DAGNEYT: I couldn’t agree more…
Report Post »Pablo
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 9:17pmCATB, he’s resigned from the Federal Flight Deck Officer program, meaning he’s no longer armed in the cockpit. He still works for the airline.
Report Post »Col. HawK
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 10:44pm@DAGNEYT…. Absolutely correct, I hear you loud and clear… Many times we are watching the door, and forget that something or someone may be tunneling under the house… The door is too obvious at times, and we have to think like a rat, in order to catch them. This Pilot did a Great service, and should be lavished accordingly as well. It’s great that there are a few people that can actually think outside the box….. Happy New Year to you DAGNEYT !!!
Report Post »AzDebi
Posted on December 28, 2010 at 11:04pmWe are all NOW calling this government out on the lies, corruption and their naked attempt to take away our rights as American Citizens! They have to “Isolate and then diminish” anyone who speaks out…they are EXPOSED! God bless this man for his patriotism!
Did anyone else hear the fella who called into Glenn’s radio program today? He said that the FBI showed up at his door because he had been placed on a Terrorist Watch List with HLS because of his frankness in speaking out about the government (posts on the internet)…I’m sorry, but I can’t remember what his background was, but I do remember that he sounded like a pretty decent guy…Stay alert America…these people will stop at NOTHING to get what they want!
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 12:25pmthis is old news was on infowars.com a week ago.
I think the food bill is Important.
• “Recommendations on whether and how to harmonize requirements under the Codex Alimentarius.”
This is included so that the FDA will “harmonize” the U.S. food and dietary supplement industries with global Codex requirements which outlaw virtually all healthy doses of vitamins and minerals. Under full Codex “harmonization,” America will be left with a dead food supply and the health food stores will be virtually stripped bare of dietary supplements. Selling vitamin D at a reasonable dose such as 4,000 IU per capsule will be criminalized and products will be seized and destroyed by FDA agents who recruit local law enforcement to bring in the firepower.
All this will, of course, ensure a diseased, nutritionally-deficient U.S. population. This actually seems to be the goal the FDA has been trying to achieve all along because the more diseased the population, the more money gets collected by Big Pharma for “treating” sick people with medication and chemotherapy.
It’s all right in the bill!
The text mentioned in this article is taken straight from the bill itself. You can search for it at http://thomas.loc.gov by searching for “S.510″ as the bill number.
It makes me wonder why some food book authors so wholeheartedly supported this bill. Why were so many progressives on the left so enamored with this law? Didn’t they realize this was a huge FDA power expansion that would destroy many small farms and put farmers out of business while subjecting the USA to possible Codex harmonization?
Did they even know the FDA is now on a global food-killing agenda that will seek to pasteurize, fumigate, cook or kill virtually every piece of food that enters the United States?
Did they not know that the bill does absolutely nothing to limit the use of chemical pesticides on imported food? According to the FDA’s stance on all this, foods laced with DDT and other pesticides are perfectly “safe” for human consumption, but foods teeming with probiotics — such as raw milk — are deadly and dangerous! (Seriously…)
How is it that popular food book authors and food documentary producers could possibly support this bill? Do they also think small dairy farmers who sell raw milk should be criminalized? Do they agree with the Codex harmonization agenda? Do they think the FDA should run the world’s food safety systems and that the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Treasury should be shaping our global food safety agenda?
Report Post »http://www.infowars.com/food-safety-bill-invokes-codex-harmonization-and-grants-fda-authority-to-police-food-safety-of-foreign-nations/