Pilot is probed over video

SAN FRANCISCO - Federal authorities are investigating a pilot who posted videos on YouTube that were critical of security at San Francisco International Airport, the pilot's attorney said Friday.

Don Werno of the law firm Werno & Associates said the Transportation Security Administration was looking into whether his client revealed sensitive information.

The 50-year-old pilot remains employed with a major airline, but has withdrawn from a program that trains flight crews to help prevent hijackings after authorities confiscated his federally issued firearm, Werno said. He declined to release the pilot's name, citing concerns about the man's job.

The TSA said in a statement that it was responding to the situation and was confident in the security at San Francisco's airport.

The pilot posted videos on YouTube in late November or early December that showed ground crew members swiping security cards and entering secure areas without being screened. He noted in the footage that pilots undergo intense screening, then have access to ax-like weapons that are stored in the cockpit in case of emergencies.

Werno said his client was upset about what he feels is lax security for ground crew. The pilot removed the videos from YouTube after the TSA objected.