Kim Kardashian and Kanye West flew into John F. Kennedy International Airport from Brazil on Tuesday, February 12, 2013, cleared customs, and then boarded a connecting flight to Los Angeles without going through security, authorities confirm.
The Transportation Security Administration said that an American Airlines employee escorted two "celebrity passengers" through a "non-public area in order to provide expedited access to their domestic flight."
Officers learned of the security bypass and brought Kim and Kanye to the jetway to perform the security screening, the TSA said.
The airline employee "violated security protocols by permitting the travelers to by-pass the TSA security checkpoint," the agency said.
American Airlines confirmed that an employee escorted the couple to their connecting flight.
"This was a lapse in judgment by one of our employees. We're working closely with the TSA and speaking to the individuals involved to better understand what happened," American Airlines said in a statement.
The flight left an hour late. American Airlines said the delay was only partly due to the incident with Kim and Kanye.
"A number of connecting bags were late arriving to the aircraft," the airline's statement said.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 6:29 PM EDT2013-05-22 22:29:45 GMT
Authorities say two New York City men and a New Jersey man kidnapped another man off a Queens street in broad daylight and held him for over a month, demanding $3 million from his family.
Authorities say two New York City men and a New Jersey man kidnapped another man off a Queens street in broad daylight and held him for over a month, demanding $3 million from his family.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 12:27 PM EDT2013-05-22 16:27:26 GMT
Black and Hispanic men are more likely to be stopped in the Bronx and Brooklyn than other boroughs, according to an analysis of police street stop data released Wednesday by the New York Civil Liberties Union.
Black and Hispanic men are more likely to be stopped in the Bronx and Brooklyn than other boroughs, according to an analysis of police street stop data released Wednesday by the New York Civil Liberties Union.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:23 AM EDT2013-05-22 12:23:21 GMT
Ex-congressman Anthony Weiner whose career imploded after raunchy tweets said in a YouTube video announcement that he's in the New York City mayoral race.
Ex-congressman Anthony Weiner whose career imploded after raunchy tweets said in a YouTube video announcement that he's in the New York City mayoral race. A poll released Wednesday placed Weiner in second place behind City Council Speaker Christine Quinn in a Democratic primary.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:15 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:15:24 GMT
An NYPD detective is accused of hacking into department computers and obtaining information about dozens of people including co-workers. Edwin Vargas was arrested Tuesday outside his home in Bronxville.
An NYPD detective is accused of hacking into department computers and obtaining information about dozens of people including co-workers.
Sunday, May 19 2013 10:57 PM EDT2013-05-20 02:57:40 GMT
The federal judge presiding over civil rights challenges to the stop-and-frisk practices of the New York Police Department has no doubt where she stands with the government.
The federal judge presiding over civil rights challenges to the stop-and-frisk practices of the New York Police Department has no doubt where she stands with the government.
Thursday, May 16 2013 6:47 PM EDT2013-05-16 22:47:54 GMT
The MTA and Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the A train subway will run its route all the way to the Rockaways starting May 30, seven months after Superstorm Sandy washed away the track support bed.
The MTA and Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the A train subway will run its route all the way to the Rockaways starting May 30, seven months after Superstorm Sandy washed away the track support bed.
Thursday, May 16 2013 6:06 PM EDT2013-05-16 22:06:34 GMT
A smuggling ring that made a fortune selling more than a million cartons of untaxed cigarettes in New York may have funneled some of the illicit proceeds to terrorist groups, authorities said.
A smuggling ring that made a fortune selling more than a million cartons of untaxed cigarettes in New York may have funneled some of the illicit proceeds to terrorist groups, authorities said.
Thursday, May 16 2013 1:17 PM EDT2013-05-16 17:17:42 GMT
Several New York lawmakers are sounding the alarm about security and safety lapses at day care centers across New York City.
Several New York lawmakers are sounding the alarm about security and safety lapses at day care centers across New York City. In a report released Thursday, dozens of daycares cited by the Dept. of Health for serious and critical health code violations since 2010, have not fixed the problems and continue to operate without penalty.
Wednesday, May 15 2013 11:08 PM EDT2013-05-16 03:08:35 GMT
A judge in Manhattan put the brakes on the so-called Taxi of Tomorrow because the Nissan-built minivan does not come in a hybrid version -- a violation of the city code.
A judge in Manhattan put the brakes on the so-called Taxi of Tomorrow because the Nissan-built minivan does not come in a hybrid version -- a violation of the city code.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:11 AM EDT2013-05-22 14:11:03 GMT
Spy thriller 'The East' is the latest creation from actor, writer and producer Brit Marling. Marling plays a former FBI agent alongside Ellen Page. Both stars make a stop in the Good Day studios on Wednesday.
Spy thriller 'The East' is the latest creation from actor, writer and producer Brit Marling. Marling plays a former FBI agent alongside Ellen Page. Both stars make a stop in the Good Day studios on Wednesday.
Buh-bye bad combover! Hello, bald head! Christian Bale was nearly unrecognizable when he landed at Los Angeles Intl. Airport on Sunday sporting a beard and a bald head.
Buh-bye bad combover! Hello, bald head! Christian Bale was nearly unrecognizable when he landed at Los Angeles Intl. Airport on Sunday sporting a beard and a bald head.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:17 PM EDT2013-05-21 23:17:02 GMT
For the first time since the death under mysterious circumstances of hop music mogul Chris Lighty nine months ago, his grieving mother is breaking her silence.
For the first time since the death under mysterious circumstances of hop music mogul Chris Lighty nine months ago, his grieving mother is breaking her silence.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 5:33 PM EDT2013-05-21 21:33:52 GMT
For 35 years, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago has been bringing its brand of contemporary dance to audiences around the world. One of the company's frequent stops is the Joyce Theater in Chelsea where it
For 35 years, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago has been bringing its brand of contemporary dance to audiences around the world. One of the company's frequent stops is the Joyce Theater in Chelsea where it
Tuesday, May 21 2013 11:27 AM EDT2013-05-21 15:27:14 GMT
Carol Burnett, who became famous for playing a variety of characters in sketch comedy routines on her namesake television show, has been named the winner of the nation's top humor prize.
Carol Burnett, who became famous for playing a variety of characters in sketch comedy routines on her namesake television show, has been named the winner of the nation's top humor prize.
Three of the original Brady cast members returned to Kings Island in Mason, Ohio over the weekend, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of an episode the show filmed there in 1973.
Three of the original Brady cast members -- Barry Williams (Greg), Christopher Knight (Peter) and Susan Olsen (Cindy) — returned to Kings Island in Mason, Ohio over the weekend, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of an episode the show filmed there in 1973.