TSA takes blame for Newark lockdown

NEW YORK, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- The troubled Transportation Security Administration admitted fault Wednesday for the security breach at Newark Liberty International Airport.

A passenger told a TSA officer of a person who allegedly walked the wrong way through a security exit Sunday at the airport. TSA officials attempted to review video from cameras installed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and operated by the TSA, but found the cameras had been operating but not recording, CNN reported.

The TSA then reviewed Continental Airlines' security tapes finding an "Asian male" had breached security. He has not been found.

An airport source said the TSA uses the cameras on a daily basis: "They have that system at their workstations. They have the ability to check it. They need to check it and tell the Port Authority if it's not working."

The Port Authority was not notified of the breach for 80 minutes because TSA officials wanted to confirm the breach before taking action, a spokeswoman said.

The incident caused a shutdown at Terminal C at the airport for over two hours, all passengers to be re-screened and arrival delays affecting mostly the airport's largest tenant, Continental Airlines.