AN MD88 PARKED AT THE GATE WITH A JETWAY ATTACHED EXPERIENCED A BREECH OF SECURITY WHEN A PERSON ENTERED THE JETWAY FROM THE TERMINAL THROUGH AN OPEN JETWAY DOOR. THE PERSON LATER IDENTED HIMSELF WITH FAA CREDENTIALS.

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AFTER ARRIVING AT THE GATE IN BHM; THE FO AND I DECIDED TO DEPLANE TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT. WE WALKED UP THE JETWAY THROUGH THE OPEN DOOR AND INTO THE CONCOURSE. A MAN STANDING IN THE CONCOURSE ASKED IF ALL THE PAX WERE OFF THE ACFT TO WHICH THE FO REPLIED THAT HE WAS UNSURE. WE THEN PROCEEDED TO THE FOOD COURT IMMEDIATELY TO THE R OF THE GATE WHERE I PURCHASED A SMALL PIZZA. WE THEN RETURNED TO THE GATE AREA APPROX 3-4 MINS LATER. AS WE APCHED THE JETWAY DOOR; AN AGENT STANDING BY THE GATE/COUNTER ASKED US TO CLOSE THE DOOR FOR HIM. WE DID THIS AND PROCEEDED DOWN THE JETWAY WITH THE DOOR CLOSED BEHIND US. AT THIS POINT I NOTICED A MAN STANDING AT THE END OF THE JETWAY BY THE DOOR TO THE RAMP AREA. I APCHED HIM ASKING IF I COULD HELP. HE SAID THAT HE JUST WANTED TO LOOK AROUND FOR A MIN. I INQUIRED WHETHER HE WAS A PAX ON OUR ACFT WHO MIGHT BE GOING ON TO JAN (IE; POSSIBLY ATL-BHM-JAN). HE SAID THAT HE WAS NOT A THROUGH PAX; JUST A PAX. I ASKED HIM IF THE GATE AGENT HAD INSTRUCTED HIM TO BOARD THE ACFT. AGAIN HE REPLIED IN THE NEGATIVE; BUT ADDED THAT THE DOOR WAS OPEN AND THOUGHT IT WAS 'OK' TO PROCEED TO THE JETWAY. I BEGAN TO TELL HIM THAT HE SHOULD NOT BE IN THAT AREA AND WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE WHEN HE PRESENTED FAA CREDENTIALS AND STATED THAT THE DOOR TO THE JETWAY SHOULD HAVE BEEN CLOSED EARLIER. THE PROB HERE WAS THE FAILURE OF THE GATE AGENT TO CLOSE THE DOOR AFTER ALL PAX HAD DEPLANED OR ASK SOMEONE TO DO IT FOR HIM EARLIER.