Argenbright, the security firm for Newark and Washington's Dulles airports where two of yesterday's doomed jets were hijacked, was fined US$1.5m last year for allowing untrained employees to operate checkpoints at an international airport.
Argenbright, which was bought by UK security group Securicor nine months ago, was fined US$1m, the highest penalty fine under US federal law, last October after pleading guilty to making false statements to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The company also agreed to pay US$350,000 to 38 airlines and US$200,000 to cover the US Attorney's legal costs.
FAA special agents discovered the violations on June 25, 2000, during an assessment of AA's passenger pre-screening and checked baggage security.
The company falsified training records and background checks, resulting in untrained staff, some with criminal records to operate checkpoints at Philadelphia International Airport.
The criminal records included convictions for drug dealing, kidnapping, aggravated assault and theft.
Securicor has confirmed Argenbright provided security services at Newark and Washington's Dulles airport.
The hijacked plane that crashed into the second World Trade Centre tower had taken off from Dulles, while the hijacked plane that went down outside Pittsburgh took off from Newark.
A Securicor spokesman said: “Argenbright is working closely with and providing full support to its airline customers
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