$1M Suit Filed Over Security Breach

— -- A "dastardly" lawsuit is brought against a man accused of breaching an airport's security, a Ground Zero flag will fly in Afghanistan and the Coast Guard begins training "sea marshals."

AirTran Sues Georgia Man Over Security Breach

ATLANTA, Nov. 27 — AirTran Airways has sued the man accused ofbreaching security at Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport,leading to a temporary shutdown of the nation's busiest airport.

AirTran, which operates an Atlanta hub, filed the federalcomplaint Monday against Michael Shane Lasseter of Gainesville, Ga.The airline, which said the Nov. 16 cancellations and diversions offlights cost it more than $1 million, will seek at least $100,000in damages, general counsel Richard Magurno said.

"We think people have to be responsible for what they do,"Magurno said.

Lasseter, 32, was charged with disorderly conduct for runningpast security guards and down an up escalator. He said he did notsee any guards and was not aware that he had caused the securityalert.

Lasseter's lawyer, Richard Lipman, called the lawsuit a"dastardly, exploitive, irresponsible and senseless action."

"They don't have the facts," Lipman said.

— The Associated Press

Ground Zero Flag Sent to Afghanistan

N E W Y O R K, Nov. 27 — Scrawled with messages of anguish, vengeance and patriotic fervor, an American flag that flew at Ground Zero is being sent to U.S. troops in Afghanistan as a reminder of what they are fighting for.

"For my sons," "God bless and be safe" and "Pay back time," say messages written on the red and white stripes by victims' relatives and Ground Zero workers. The stars are reserved for names of the dead.

The 12-by-18-foot flag is being sent this week to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Members of the unit, based at Camp Lejeune, N.C., helped seize an airstrip in southern Afghanistan, the Pentagon said Monday. President Bush said the troops will help hunt down terrorists linked to the Sept. 11 attacks.