Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were allowed to bypass a security checkpoint at JFK Airport on Tuesday, a violation that contributed to a delay in the flight they were about to board to Los Angeles.
But Kim and Kanye are not to blame, TSA told TMZ; instead, an airline employee made a misjudgment.
The celebrity couple had flown from Brazil to JFK, where they intended to catch a connecting flight to L.A. But once they landed in New York, an airline greeter allowed them to bypass a second layer of security, enabling them to board their next flight as quickly as possible, TMZ reported.
"An airline employee escorted the two travelers through a non-public area in order to provide expedited access to their domestic flight," the TSA told TMZ. "In doing so, the airline employee violated security protocols by permitting the travelers to by-pass the TSA security checkpoint. TSA officials learned of the violation and conducted a private screening of the two passengers in the area of the jetway. The passengers were cleared to board their flight, which departed after a delay of approximately 50 minutes. TSA is actively investigating the incident."
An American Airlines rep told TMZ that the airline is taking responsibility for the incident.
"This was a lapse in judgment by one of our employees," the rep said. "We're working closely with the TSA and speaking to the individuals involved to better understand what happened."
Kardashian and West were finally able to reach their destination in L.A., greeted by swarms of paparazzi.
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