Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Distraction; Communication Breakdown; Physiological - Other; Workload; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Security; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
There was a break before the next flight to ZZZ.  Flight attendants left the aircraft.  First Officer (FO) left the aircraft.  Captain left the aircraft as one of the FAs came back to the aircraft.  Captain came back to the aircraft.  Both FAs and FO were on board.  Also a Ramp Agent (RA) was on board sitting in the back of the plane resting.  One of the flight Attendants told the Captain she was concerned that the RA did not complete the security search.  From her perspective it seemed as if the security check was not complete.  Captain went back and asked the RA if he had completed the security search.  He said yes.  Captain asked what was involved with the search and he described that it was a visual search and where he looked.  Captain told the Flight Attendant that the Ramp Agent said he did it.  Flight Attendant was not sure because the RA hadn't lifted up the seat cushions and looked behind them or put the tray tables down as the FA had seen done in previous security searches.  Captain asked the RA if he could do the security check again and that there was a concern that it was not complete.  The RA started doing another security check lifting up the seat cushions in the first couple rows.  Captain went to the flight deck to prepare for the flight.  Captain assumed that the security check got completed the second round and all was good to go.  Flight departs for ZZZ; Captain and FO review the security section of Flight Ops Manual (FOM).  After arrival in ZZZ; the Captain goes to review the security section with FAs.  It is then that he hears that the Ramp Agent did not go completely through the cabin on the second time and check seat cushions and tray tables at ZZZ1.  The RA talked with another RA and then told the Flight Attendants that the search had happened and it was complete.  The Captain called the Duty Officer and had a discussion about the situation and the wording in the FOM.  Duty Officer told the Captain that he would call back after a few minutes while he made a call to find out what the Ramp manual says to do.  After the Duty officer called back to the Captain he referenced the Services Manual about aircraft search to and from ZZZZ; wording was not the same as what is in the FOM.  The Duty officer agreed that there is room for some confusion between the wording in the two manuals.  Captain decided to stop the operation and have ZZZ ramp agents do a Full Search before continuing on to ZZZ2.  A Big thank you to ZZZ RAs in knocking out a Full Search.         My thoughts (Captain) there is some confusion in how the FOM describes a cabin search and what a visual inspection actually is on the security form.Pay closer attention to details.  Don't assume anything; make sure everyone is on the same page in understanding of what's happening.  Ask questions; try and understand the full picture.  It's been awhile since our airplanes have made ZZZZ trips and it was the first time for our crew the other day since prior to COVID-19.  We need to show each other respect; and give grace in this super stressful time.  After talking with the Duty Officer; I more fully aware of the staffing issues with ramp; COVID-19 cases and just under staffing in different areas which has been extremely difficult.  I also see a value in debriefing the crew at the end of the trip or after abnormal situations as a learning time for all as we grow as professionals.
Air carrier Captain reported the aircraft security check may have been improperly conducted and cited confusion between the wording in two manuals as a contributing factor.