A Captain and Flight Attendant reported that a Gate Agent failed to notify the crew about two Federal Air Marshals (FAM) boarding the flight before one of the two showed his badge to the boarding Flight Attendant.
Synopsis
A Captain and Flight Attendant reported that a Gate Agent failed to notify the crew about two Federal Air Marshals (FAM) boarding the flight before one of the two showed his badge to the boarding Flight Attendant.
Narrative
During boarding process; forward Flight Attendant discovered that a Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) was on board; and that we had not been notified by the gate. The passenger showed his badge while entering the boarding door. The Flight Attendant could not find any record of a LEO on her paper work. She then asked me if I was aware of any LEO's on board. At about this time the boarding gate agent asked if we were ready to close the aircraft door for departure. We had not been notified at any time by the gate; or station personal; that two armed Federal Air Marshals had boarded our aircraft. At this time the forward Flight Attendant asked the gate agent if we had any LEO's or armed passengers on board? Her response was 'no'. The forward Flight Attendant then asked the passenger in seat 4C to come to the galley. At that time the passenger identified himself as a Federal Air Marshall. He and the Gate Agent went off the aircraft; into the jet bridge to have a discussion. He went back to his seat; then the passenger from seat 3D came up to the galley and identified himself as the Team Leader. The Team Leader informed the Flight Attendant that they (both FAMS) had showed their credentials to the Gate Agent before the boarding process began; and she just told them to go have a seat. We never got any paper work showing the seat locations; or number of armed passengers on board.
Second reporter narrative
I was was working the forward door and during the boarding process a gentleman came through the boarding door and flashed a badge. I asked the Captain if he had a Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) on his paper work. Captain's reply was 'no'. When the boarding process was over and the Gate Agent came down to the aircraft. I asked about any armed passengers on board. Her reply was 'none'. I then asked the gentleman who had flashed his badge earlier (he was in seat 4C) if he would come up to the galley. He was compliant and said he was a FAM and that the Gate Agent had seen his credentials. The Gate Agent and the FAM began to have words and then went out into the jet bridge. The FAM then came back on the aircraft and went back to his seat. I spoke with the Agent and her only concern was getting the boarding door closed. Another man came into the galley and identified himself as a FAM and the Team Leader. He told me that he and the other FAM had shown their credentials to the Gate Agent before boarding began and she told them 'to just have a seat.' The Team Leader told me that she did not seem interested in their paperwork and that she appeared to be 'slow or challenged.' Once we (the crew) distinguished the FAM's seat assignments; we closed the boarding door and left for our destination.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.