US Air Marshals Face Firings, Suspensions

The Transportation Security Administration is firing eight federal air marshals, including a supervisor, for allegedly drinking alcohol on a training day and suspending six others for not reporting the misconduct.

The 14 marshals belong to the New York office and were notified Friday. All can appeal except a probationary employee who was terminated immediately.

The TSA tells The Associated Press the drinking occurred at a restaurant in February and was reported to a website that allows employees to alert leadership of inappropriate behavior.

None of the marshals was scheduled for flight duty the day of the drinking. But the TSA says consumption of alcohol is forbidden anytime they are on the job.

The TSA didn't know if any had yet retained attorneys.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)