I am the owner of that Reagan National virtual cache. I had created a couple of other similar caches (one at JFK and one at the airport in Cancun) with the intent on creating a virtual caches for traveling geocachers (I travel a pretty fair amount). I also have the coordinates and photos ready for several others (even one at Havana airport in Cuba).
When I first saw that message from New York Admin I was suspicious because it came from "
watch@opencaching.us", that a DNF log was used to post a message, and the poor grammar/spelling. I didn't investigate the account but was more curious about whether there was, in fact, an issue with taking photos inside the terminal at airports.
My first search results had a few relevant hits but the first thing I noticed was that there wasn't really anything recent. As it turned out though, American Airlines does have a recent (in the past two years) policy which prohibits taking photos/video of AA employees, equipment or operations without permission. I think United had a policy as well that would allow photos as long as they were of a personal nature.
Anyone that has gone through immigrations/customs ought to know that the use of cell phones cameras isn't allowed in the immigrations/customs area, but outside of that, even the TSA allows some photography at the security checkpoint. Here is what the TSA website has about taking pictures/video:
"TSA does not prohibit photographing, videotaping or filming at security checkpoints, as long as the screening process is not interfered with or sensitive information is not revealed.
Interference with screening includes but is not limited to holding a recording device up to the face of a TSA officer so that the officer is unable to see or move, refusing to assume the proper stance during screening, blocking the movement of others through the checkpoint or refusing to submit a recording device for screening.
Additionally, you may not film or take pictures of equipment monitors that are shielded from public view."
All that said, the reason that I archived the Reagan National cache was that it was at a gate in a terminal that is pretty much exclusively used by American Airlines. Although I was standing not more than 10' from the gate agents and watched someone else later taking a family photo in front of the departure screen without a question, I didn't want to put anyone in an uncomfortable position should they encounter a gate agent with a mall cop complex having a bad day.
BTW, I understand that having a cache inside the security checkpoint means those that are not traveling can't easily get to them but I specifically created them for traveling geocachers, especially those that may only have a short layover while enroute to some other location.