Senate to question TSA chief after airplane stowaway

The Senate committee that oversees transportation issues is planning to hold a hearing next week about the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) plans to adapt to new airport security threats.

The hearing, on April 30, comes as the TSA is facing questions about failing to stop a teenager from stowing away on a flight from San Jose to Hawaii over the weekend.

The Senate panel said Wednesday that the meeting would “examine the TSA’s efforts to implement new procedures to confront the evolving security threats to America’s transportation systems.

{mosads}”Despite significant success in fighting global terrorism in the years since September 11th, our nation continues to face security threats to its transportation network,” the committee said in release about the hearing.

“Although the TSA has made substantial progress in addressing these threats, terrorists continually adapt their tactics to account for new security measures,” the statement continued. “To effectively counter evolving threats, the TSA has focused on developing a layered, risk-based approach to security.”

TSA Administrator John Pistole is scheduled to testify at the hearing, which will be chaired by Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.).