Dash 8-200
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Training / Qualification
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Security
General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Police / Security Involved
Procedure
During the initial boarding process; I heard my Flight Attendant trying to keep passengers off of the airplane until a bag was removed from outside the aircraft (We had coordinated with the gate agents ahead of time to have the passengers sent out 25 minutes prior to departure per standard policy). However; during the boarding process; we noticed a checked bag sitting forward of the wing on the green gate-checked bag cart now with the other passengers' bags. The passengers were dropping their green gate-checked bags off alongside this white checked bag (all on the same cart). After hearing my Flight Attendant; I immediately left the flight deck and stopped the passengers from boarding the plane. I had the passengers already on the plane deplaned and sent back inside. I advised Operations we had a white checked bag in the same proximity as passengers and that we needed to perform a full security search of the aircraft (which my crew performed and documented). I contacted Dispatch who contacted Ops. Ops sent out a GSC to ask why we were delaying the flight. After all of the coordination and security search; we were allowed to continue the flight.A checked bag should never be placed around passengers. We were repeatedly told over and over again by the rampers (and the GSC) that placing white checked bags in front of the wing is commonplace when a baggage cart is not around. We were then chastised for delaying the flight and were told that 'This is how we do things over at the X and Y terminals. We always put white tags on bags at the gate.' I had a VERY difficult time convincing the GSC that this bag did NOT come from a passenger at the gate (it was a checked bag; not a gate-checked bag that was white-tagged). My Flight Attendant tried to explain our Company security policies to the GSC; but the GSC was again saying this is how they did things at 'X and Y.' We had a very difficult time communicating with the ground personnel who were convinced they were doing everything right. The station rampers NEED to know security procedures so that the flight crew can be on the same page as the rampers. The focus is on on-time performance way too much; this time at the risk of security. After coordinating with Dispatch and Ops; we were told that the bag was from a connecting flight and not placed on the concrete so that it didn't get wet. Unfortunately; we had numerous bags that were in fact placed on the concrete behind the wing; so that was a poor excuse. What is more; I took a picture of the very dry concrete immediately after being told this. If a baggage cart needs to be present so this does not take place in the future; then get a baggage cart. If security procedures need to be taught to ground personnel; then teach security. If on-time performance needs to be secondary to security (as it should be); then teach safety first. What is more; after we completed our turn; I was contacted by Dispatch saying that we as the flight crew were now being blamed for the delayed flight. We were told that the ground personnel were now saying that the checked bag was removed from the cart before ANY passengers were boarded which is a bold lie. When I left the flight deck (with a few passengers already onboard); I went immediately to the white checked bag on the baggage cart and inquired about what it was and where it came from. So if honesty needs to be taught; then teach honesty.
DHC-8-200 Captain deplaned passengers from the aircraft and took a boarding delay when a checked bag was on the ramp and passenger gate checked bags were being placed alongside it on the same cart. A Ground Security Coordinator was sent out and after a full security search the aircraft was reboarded.