Narrative:

The aft cargo pit was unusable due to a door problem. Consequently, we were unable to accommodate all the passenger bags in the forward pit. It was suggested that we accommodate the overflow (about 10 bags) in the overhead compartments in the cabin. We departed with the excess bags stowed in the overhead bins in the first class cabin. After some reflection, it occurred to us (flight crew) that this could be considered a security breach because, in theory, the passenger would have access to bags which were not screened, as carry-on bags would have been. Although I asked the supervisor on duty if this practice was allowed, as PIC, I should have been aware of the security issues involved.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A COMMERCIAL FIXED WING MLG WAS DISPATCHED WITH UNSCREENED BAGGAGE CARRIED IN THE FIRST CLASS OVERHEAD BINS DUE TO THE AFT CARGO PIT DOOR BEING INOP.

Narrative: THE AFT CARGO PIT WAS UNUSABLE DUE TO A DOOR PROB. CONSEQUENTLY, WE WERE UNABLE TO ACCOMMODATE ALL THE PAX BAGS IN THE FORWARD PIT. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT WE ACCOMMODATE THE OVERFLOW (ABOUT 10 BAGS) IN THE OVERHEAD COMPARTMENTS IN THE CABIN. WE DEPARTED WITH THE EXCESS BAGS STOWED IN THE OVERHEAD BINS IN THE FIRST CLASS CABIN. AFTER SOME REFLECTION, IT OCCURRED TO US (FLC) THAT THIS COULD BE CONSIDERED A SECURITY BREACH BECAUSE, IN THEORY, THE PAX WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO BAGS WHICH WERE NOT SCREENED, AS CARRY-ON BAGS WOULD HAVE BEEN. ALTHOUGH I ASKED THE SUPVR ON DUTY IF THIS PRACTICE WAS ALLOWED, AS PIC, I SHOULD HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE SECURITY ISSUES INVOLVED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.