by Tony Gail, WKOW.
Original Publication: http://bit.ly/1T9GaiD
MADISON (WKOW) — Federal Aviation Administration officials say UW-Madison was fined $56,000 after a university researcher put hazardous materials in luggage and checked the baggage onto a flight, only to have TSA screeners intercept the cargo.
Officials say the material included research-grade alcohol, which FAA spokesperson Tony Molinaro calls “highly flammable.” Officials say corrosive epoxy resin was also in the traveling graduate student’s baggage.
The Jan. 13, 2015 Delta Airlines flight was bound from Dane County Regional Airport to Minneapolis. UW officials say the researcher’s complete, travel itinerary was domestic only.
UW-Madison officials say the student did not realize his cargo had to be treated as hazardous material.
In a statement, UW-Madison officials say both the student and another involved, student researcher received more intensive training after the incident.
They say beyond the two students, there were “…steps…to raise awareness and train University researchers, faculty, staff and administrators on hazardous materials and chemical packaging.”
UW-Madison officials consider the incident isolated, and say with considerable research travel across several academic disciplines at the university, the school’s safety record is good.
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