Four workers who allowed a man carrying knives and a stun gun through a security check at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport have been sacked, officials said today.
Nepalese native Mr Subash Gurung (27) was arrested on Saturday before he could board a United flight to Omaha, Nebraska. He was charged with three misdemeanour counts involving weapons possession and was released on bond.
The Chicago Department of Aviation said four passenger-screening workers were fired and five others, including a supervisor, were suspended.
They worked for Atlanta-based Argenbright Security Inc., which operates the screening systems for United Airlines at O'Hare and is the largest such US contractor.
In a television interview Mr Gurung said the incident was an accident triggered by his haste to catch the flight. He also said he had the stun gun because he was living alone and was "totally insecure".
He was stopped at the security post after two pocket knives were found on him.
Police were called but he was allowed to continue on to the gate and those monitoring X-ray equipment failed to detect several other knives, a stun gun and a spray can of mace in his carry-on luggage, police said.
When United employees did a further check of his carry-on bag at the gate, the other weapons were found.