DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 

Office of Inspector General 

Audit of Implementation of Aviation 

Security Requirements at Foreign 

Airports 

(Unclassified Summary) 

OIG-07-64 August 2007 
Office of Inspector General 

U.S. Department of Homeland Security 

Washington, DC 20528

 August 13, 2007 

Preface 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) was established by 

the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-296) by amendment to the Inspector General 

Act of 1978. This is one of a series of audit, inspection, and special reports prepared as part of our 

oversight responsibilities to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness within the department. 

This report addresses the implementation of aviation security requirements at foreign airports. It is 

based on discussions with Transportation Security Administration Representatives, foreign 

government officials and airport authority representatives, U.S. aircraft operator representatives, and 

companies providing contracted screening services at those locations, direct observation, and a 

review of applicable documents. 

The recommendations in the report have been developed to the best knowledge available to our 

office, and have been discussed in draft with those responsible for implementing them. It is our 

hope that this report will result in more effective and efficient program management and operation. 

We express our appreciation to all of those who contributed to the preparation of this report. 

Richard L. Skinner 

Inspector General 
Audit OIG Report 

Department of Homeland Security 

Office of Inspector General 

Background 

We conducted this review in response to congressional concerns regarding the 

security of international flights to the United States. These concerns surfaced 

as a result of Richard Reid’s failed attempt to explode an improvised 

explosive device (IED) concealed in his shoe on an American Airlines flight 

from Paris to Miami. Our objective was to assess TSA’s efforts to address the 

threat from terrorists attempting to carry an explosive device on their persons 

or in their carry-on items at a foreign airport. 

Results of Audit 

To meet the threat from terrorists attempting to carry an explosive device on 

their persons or in their carry-on items at a foreign airport, TSA has relied on 

strengthened U.S. and international civil aviation security requirements and 

processes, and has continued to manage active foreign airport assessment and 

aircraft operator inspection programs. In addition, TSA has security 

specialists assigned to overseas locations to serve as the principal 

representatives of TSA in all matters relating to transportation security in their 

designated areas of responsibility. 

As a result of our audit activities we concluded that the foreign airports visited 

and the aircraft operators that use them comply with applicable U.S. and 

international civil aviation regulations and requirements. However, we made 

three recommendations to TSA, which, if implemented, should improve 

aviation security at foreign airports. 

TSA’s Response 

TSA concurred with each of our recommendations and has taken or is 

continuing to take action to implement them. 

Audit of Implementation of Aviation Security Requirements at Foreign Airports (Unclassified Summary) 

Page 1 
Additional Information and Copies 

To obtain additional copies of this report, call the Office of Inspector General 

(OIG) at (202) 254-4199, fax your request to (202) 254-4305, or visit the OIG web 

site at www.dhs.gov/oig. 

OIG Hotline 

To report alleged fraud, waste, abuse or mismanagement, or any other kind of 

criminal or noncriminal misconduct relative to department programs or 

operations: 

• Call our Hotline at 1-800-323-8603; 

• Fax the complaint directly to us at (202) 254-4292; 

• Email us at DHSOIGHOTLINE@dhs.gov; or 

• Write to us at: 

DHS Office of Inspector General/MAIL STOP 2600, Attention: 

Office of Investigations - Hotline, 245 Murray Drive, SW, Building 410, 

Washington, DC 20528. 

The OIG seeks to protect the identity of each writer and caller.