Kim And Kanye Cause International Incident At JFK?

Airline takes responsibility for fallout from allowing couple to bypass TSA checkpoint at airport.

Being a jet setting celebrity couple has its perks: private planes, luxury airport lounges, and, apparently, the ability to skip those annoying TSA screening checkpoints.

The latter turned into a hassle of a different stripe on Wednesday, though, according to reports about the travel hiccup for expectant mother Kim Kardashian and boyfriend Kanye West. According to Reuters, two passengers identified by New York tabloids as Kim and Kanye, were reportedly allowed to bypass airport security to catch a flight at New York's JFK airport.

Avoiding the screening area, an airline employee reportedly took the unnamed celebrity pair to a non-public area "in order to provide expedited access to their domestic flight."

TMZ reported that the couple were on their way home from Brazil on Tuesday and were attempting to catch a connecting flight to Los Angeles. When they landed, an airline greeter met them at their gate and allowed them to skip security in order to get the pair to their next flight as soon as possible.

But once they took their seats on the L.A.-bound plane a TSA agent boarded and asked them to get off in order to undergo the required security screening.

A statement from the TSA explained, "The airline employee violated security protocols by permitting the travelers to bypass the TSA security checkpoint. TSA officials learned of the violation and conducted a private screening of the two passengers in the area of the jetway."

The couple was then allowed to board the plane, though it delayed the flight by nearly an hour. The TSA said it was investigating the incident and an American Airlines rep told TMZ that the company is taking responsibility for the breach of security protocol. "This was a lapse in judgment by one of our employees," the airline said. "We're working closely with the TSA and speaking to the individuals involved to better understand what happened."

The airline spokesperson said the 50-minute delay for the L.A. flight wasn't entirely due to the Kimye flap, but also because of a lag in transferring some connecting bags.