It was reported last week that a Mesa Airlines pilot's personal laptop was apparently stolen about a week ago while he was co-piloting a United Express flight from Birmingham, Alabama to Washington Dulles. What made the theft notable was that the laptop, which was thought to have been stolen from an overhead compartment, contained the security access codes that allow pilots to access gates and aircraft.
As a result, 17 airports (Dulles, Atlanta, Phoenix, Chicago O'Hare, etc.) had to immediately change their security codes.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is now looking into changing the security requirements for pilots and others who carry this type of information along with them.
