This month’s shooting rampage at Los Angeles International Airport that killed TSA Officer Gerardo Hernandez is a sober reminder of the daily sacrifices being made by thousands of dedicated employees at our nation’s airports. Hernandez was just 39 years old and the first TSA officer to be killed in the line of duty in the agency’s history.
The public memorial was an emotional and solemn ceremony attended by TSA agents, family members and dignitaries who paid tribute to him. Following a special flag presentation, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder called Hernandez a hero, and thanked all TSA officers for their dedication to their work. In that same incident, shooting victim TSA Officer Tony Grigsby unselfishly helped an elderly man escape from the gunfire. Despite his gunshot wounds, he stressed that his main concern was making sure the terrified people running toward him were OK.
Both Hernandez and Grigsby are airport superheroes, along with other TSA employees, LAX police and fire department first responders, and innocent victims caught in the crossfire. Each and every one of them deserves to be recognized and honored for their efforts.
Airport employees going to work day after day never know when they will encounter a life and death situation. Whether they are in the control tower, on security detail, driving on the taxiways, behind a ticket counter, near the gate area, at the TSA checkpoint or in the airport parking structure, anything can happen. Once inflight, there are additional dangers with medical emergencies, potential hijackers, bombers or terrorists.
Having worked in the aviation industry for many years, I have personally witnessed the countless daily heroic acts of so many of my industry colleagues. Sadly, much of their heroism has gone largely unnoticed.
No one knows when a crisis will happen, but everyone recognizes that risks exist and they must be prepared to act when faced with the unexpected. At the more than 43,983 airports in the world, hundreds of thousands of workers are poised to become superheroes. Here are just a few examples of real heroism in the line of duty.
Airport food vendors were blizzard's unsung heroes
The winter's first storm shut down Newark Liberty, John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia airports for 24 hours and canceled thousands of flights during the week that stranded countless travelers. During the crippling blizzard, the food vendors in Terminal B at Newark Liberty rose to the occasion when called upon to feed tired and hungry stranded travelers. But first they had to navigate snow-clogged streets and get to the airport to open the food concession and start serving famished fliers. They came to the public’s rescue, ensuring that meals were available for inconvenienced travelers.
TSA agents save woman from kidnappers
Two TSA agents thwarted a passenger kidnapping in Miami recently. The attentive screeners saw what appeared to be a suspicious-looking passenger traveling alongside two men. Because of their extensive training, they knew what they had to do when they saw a woman who appeared to have been beaten. The agents pulled the passengers out of line and reported them to law enforcement authorities. As it turned out, the female passenger had been beaten, forced to withdraw money from an ATM and threatened by her captors. These astute TSA agents most likely saved her life.
Glasgow Airport attack creates new superhero
John Smeaton, a baggage handler, became a somewhat reluctant superhero when he helped police tackle suspected terrorists that rammed a Jeep into Glasgow Airport. When he spotted a terrorist suspect grappling with an officer, Smeaton and other members of the public assisted police officers thwart the attack. He has been praised in the Scottish House of Commons and the Wall Street Journal described him as "a de facto spokesman for Glasgow's fighting spirit."
Unsung hero touches lives of 4,000 children
Stephen Sefton is the Front of House Facilities Manager at Manchester Airport and Chair of the airport-based charity ChildFlight. For the past 26 years, he has been dedicated to the charity that gives sick and deserving children the holiday of their dreams. To raise money, Stephen has walked over hot coals and broken glass, run multiple 10K races in Manchester and trekked Snowdon in adverse weather conditions. His efforts have resulted in providing flights and holidays for over 4,000 sick and deserving children of all ages and their families.
Air traffic controller guides airplane with hypoxic pilot to safety
When Denver air traffic controller Charlie Rohrer took a class on how to recognize the symptoms of hypoxia, he had no way of knowing this information would one day make him a superhero. During his shift at the Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center he believed a private pilot was suffering from altitude sickness, which occurs when the body is deprived of oxygen. The elderly pilot drifted in and out of consciousness, but Rohrer successfully guided the pilot to a safe landing. Both passengers’ lives were saved by this superhero.
Alligator trapping by airport employees
Now who would think that wild animal wrangling is a part of an airport security officer’s job? O’Hare Airport security guard Tineka Walker was working in Terminal 3 when a passenger told her about something strange beneath an escalator. Upon closer examination, it turned out to be an 18-inch alligator. A heroic airport employee jumped into action armed only with a broom and dustpan to capture the gator, who was then handed over to the Chicago Herpetological Society.
There are many animal superheroes too.
Goats can be heroes — when it comes to preventing airport fires
At San Francisco International Airport, officials hired a mob of part-timers in a unique and environmentally friendly system of brush clearance for fire prevention. For several weeks, nearly 400 free-range goats munched on plentiful airport brush to protect nearby homes and eliminate the fire danger. Because the airport is home to two endangered species — a garter snake and a California red-legged frog — machinery could not be used. So having goats leisurely consume brush achieved wildlife protection and the safety of neighboring properties.
Chicago's O'Hare also employs a host of unassuming, unacknowledged heroes – goats, sheep, llamas, and wild burros that enjoy unhurried grazing on the grassy areas so lawn mowers and brush removal equipment are not required.
Remembering the K-9 heroes in huge drug bust
Handler and Police Agent Jimmy Fogata and Sultan Vom Lorscher Rathaus, the Santa Paula Airport department's senior K-9 dog, are being hailed as superheroes. In the line of duty, Sultan sniffed out a large stash of illegal drugs hidden in a Cessna's cockpit. U.S. Customs Service agents seized nearly 600 pounds of cocaine and arrested the criminal after he ran out of gas and was forced to land at the small airport. The 3-year-old German shepherd leaped into action when his perceptive nose detected the illegal narcotics, leading officers to make the discovery and the arrest.
Everyday heroes are everywhere in our nation’s airports. Let’s give a shout-out to all of these deserving individuals who have not received the public recognition they deserve. Whether they save the day, or save a life, these airport professionals are truly the superheroes that make our travels safe, secure and a bit more comfortable.
Agnes Huff, PhD, has more than 25 years of experience providing specialized strategic public relations and marketing, crisis management and business consulting to a diverse group of clients in the aviation industry. In 1995, she founded Agnes Huff Communications Group (AHCG) an integrated marketing and PR consulting firm headquartered in Los Angeles. Clients include national and international airports and airlines, government entities, travel and tourism organizations, and transportation companies, among other high-profile industry clients. She welcomes feedback and will respond to comments at [email protected]. More information on AHCG is available at www.ahuffgroup.com.
