THE US Transportation Security Administration is proposing to fire 25 employees at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey and to suspend 19 others as a result of an investigation into improper screening of checked luggage.

The TSA says the alleged screening failures were uncovered last year after surveillance cameras were installed in a screening room to check for possible thefts.

Eight employees were immediately fired in June.

The latest action raises to 52 the number of TSA employees at Newark caught up in the investigation. It represents the biggest single disciplinary action taken by the TSA at a U.S. airport.

The TSA says the latest group cited includes both screeners and managers who are accused of failing to effectively supervise their employees.

Originally published as Forty-four TSA airport staff face firing