TSA Experiences

[Andrea]

Reach for the sky! Overzealous Heathrow security officials 'confiscate' Toy Story cowboy Woody DOLL'S miniature gun

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2556586/Reach-sky-Overzealous-Heathrow-security-officials-confiscate-Toy-Story-cowboy-Woody-DOLLS-miniature-gun.html

"With his trademark cowboy boots, cute waistcoat and red neckerchief, little Woody from Toy Story hardly looks like an imposing figure.

But the cowboy doll was apparently branded a terror risk at Heathrow Airport – because it was holding a miniature six-shooter.

A bemused air traveller has claimed on a social networking site that the figure was examined at Heathrow by security staff - who then subsequently confiscated the doll’s tiny firearm."

[Andrea]

TSA Halts Testing on Technology to Screen Passengers' Online Data

http://www.nextgov.com/big-data/2014/03/tsa-halts-testing-technology-screen-passengers-online-data/80065/

"The Transportation Security Administration has called off -- for now -- live tests of technology that would expand background checks on airplane passengers to include analyses of their online presences.

The idea was to have contractors analyze consumer data -- potentially including dating profiles and shopping histories -- on fliers who apply for the voluntary "Pre✓” program. Pre✓, open to all U.S. citizens, lets passengers breeze through dedicated checkpoints without removing shoes, belts, laptops or TSA-compliant liquids after paying an $85 fee and proving their identities."

Bolding mine!

[Andrea]

Not TSA people but airport employees that have passed TSA background checks.

LAX Workers Busted For Stealing from Suitcases

http://gma.yahoo.com/lax-workers-busted-stealing-suitcases-keep-luggage-safe-195314146--abc-news-topstories.html

"The FBI served 25 search warrants and made six arrests Wednesday night at Los Angeles International Airport, accusing workers there of stealing items from travelers' luggage."

[Andrea]

Disabled woman denied flight out of LAX due to expired license

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=9492805

"LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A woman left disabled after a stroke was denied a flight out of Los Angeles International Airport due to an expired driver's license.

Sherry Wright, of Canyon Country, is still upset about the way she and her disabled sister, Heidi Wright, were treated by a Transportation Security Administration official at LAX.

Heidi, 58, suffered a stroke 10 years ago. She is wheelchair-bound and unable to speak.

"He just wanted me to make my sister talk, and I couldn't believe it. I was like, 'Wow, we're going to make a miracle right now,'" said Wright.

Sherry took Heidi to the airport Wednesday for a flight to Phoenix, but they were stopped by the TSA because of the expired license.

"I showed her ID, her social and her DMV papers," said Sherry."

From TSA website (bolding mine):
Adult passengers (18 and over) are required to show a valid U.S. federal or state-issued photo ID in order to be allowed to go through the checkpoint and onto their flight.

We understand passengers occasionally arrive at the airport without an ID, due to lost items or inadvertently leaving them at home. Not having an ID does not necessarily mean a passenger won't be allowed to fly. If passengers are willing to provide additional information, we have other means of substantiating someone's identity, like using publicly available databases.

[Andrea]

TSA Gives Full Body Pat Down to 2 and 6 Year Old Children [VIDEO]

http://www.travelerstoday.com/articles/9588/20140423/tsa-gives-full-body-pat-down-to-2-and-6-year-old-children-video.htm

[Andrea]

TSA supervisor busted for having sex with underage girls in the Dominican Republic

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/tsa-supervisor-busted-sex-underage-girls-dominican-republic-officials-article-1.1786724

[Andrea]

Exclusive: Transgender travelers singled out in TSA screenings, docs show

http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/5/26/groin-anomalies-andpatdownstravelingwhiletrans.html

Department of Homeland Security documents obtained last month reveal details of incidents in which transgender travelers were subjected to heightened scrutiny when passing through airport security checkpoints.

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests netted civil rights complaints, incident reports and internal memos and emails from the DHS's Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and the Transportation Security Administration. They show that trans people have been required to undergo pat-down searches by officers of the opposite gender, reveal or remove items such as chest binders and prosthetic penises and defend challenges to their gender identities and their right to opt out of body scans, among other problems.

[Zimmeh]

I work at an airport and had to go to another terminal for work. The TSA agent stopped me and asked to see in my mouth. I gladly smiled for him and he noticed that I had braces with a pink chain over them. I know several of the agents and asked them how he could not see I had titanium brackets attached to my teeth, their response still makes me laugh. They said he was just bring an asshole that day. I understand why they are a little crazy at times. One of the agents was attacked by a traveler and had to be rushed to the hospital.

Zimmeh

[clay]

Was in the Caribbean a couple weeks ago. Going through customs on St. Croix as we arrived was a breeze.
As we left, I was in a WC (having just had my knee replaced 7 weeks prior to) going through customs to depart island. I was scanned, had the wand all over me PLUS a patdown over my whole body!! A female agent did the exam. My partner and gate agent who were escorting me through were on other side, laughing so hard at me...my "expression" was funny they say. Of course, I was shaking so hard....BUT NOT due to exam. I was afraid for take off. It was a mini hurricane going on at time of departure. ALL I could see was that huge mountain we had to climb up and over on takeoff! Whew.
My TSA experience was very pleasant. Their job is a difficult one, to say the least! I applaud them.
BTW, the metal prosthetic in my knee...was NO issue at all. I even had my card stating such..they weren't even interested in that at all.
Thank you, TSA!!!

[Andrea]

TSA worker accused of attacking colleague with box cutter

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/tsa-worker-accused-of-attacking-colleague-with-box/ngCbH/

The good news is he had passed his background check....../end sarcasm

[Andrea]

Say Hello to Higher Airline Ticket Fees Next Month

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2014/06/19/say-hello-to-higher-airline-ticket-fees-next-month/

"The agreement raised the fees to a flat rate of $5.60 added to each leg of a trip from $2.50 for a nonstop flight, or $5 for a trip with a layover.

The TSA is looking to charge an extra $5.60 fee for each leg of the flight where there is a connection of more than four hours."

[Andrea]

Don't forget these people are hired to keep us safe and they must pass rigorous background checks.....

TSA agent arrested after drugs found inside SW Miami-Dade home

http://www.wsvn.com/story/25840586/woman-arrested-after-drugs-tsa-uniforms-found-inside-sw-miami-dade-home

"According to Daniels' arrest affidavit, a search warrant was executed at her home, located on the 11300 block of Southwest 245th Street in Southwest Miami-Dade, Saturday. Detectives found large amounts of cocaine and marijuana, as well as a loaded Beretta PX4 handgun"

"The complaint also states Daniels' four children were home during drug transactions"

[Andrea]

Stowaway Arrested at LAX After Boarding Flight from San Jose

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Marilyn-Hartman-LAX-Stowaway-Arrested-Southwest-Flight-from-San-Jose-270076971.html

A woman who tried unsuccessfully several times to stow away aboard planes at San Francisco International Airport has breached security at another Bay Area airport. This time the plane took off with her on board.

Marilyn Hartman, 62, managed to navigate through security at Mineta San Jose International Airport on Monday night – without a proper boarding pass – and got on Southwest Airlines Flight 3785 to Los Angeles International Airport, NBC Bay Area’s Investigative Unit has learned. She apparently bypassed a document checker after a couple of failed attempts.

(Bolding mine)

[Andrea]

Video: TSA Demands to Conduct Full Body Pat Down on Man After His Plane Already Landed

http://www.infowars.com/video-tsa-demands-to-conduct-full-body-pat-down-on-man-after-his-plane-already-landed/

"TSA agents demanded to conduct a full body pat down on a man after he had already landed and was set to leave Denver Airport in a security mix up that was caught on camera.

Kahler Nygard flew from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to Denver last Saturday but was told to exit the plane before all other passengers before being met by TSA agents at the gate.

Video of the incident shows Nygard asking if he is being detained by TSA agents as an officer requests that Nygard follow him into a private screening room."

[Andrea]

Shirtless, greasy, barefoot man tried to stow away on JetBlue plane

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...918-story.html

"Hall, 32, of Orlando, was arrested Thursday after he burrowed his way under a fence into a restricted area of the Orlando International Airport then climbed into the wheel well of an airliner hoping for a free ride to the Big Apple.

Orlando police say Hall walked about eight miles from Oak Ridge Road to the airport then spent hours inside the wheel well before he finally got out and was spotted standing on the tarmac by a JetBlue Airline employee.

Hall was shirtless, greasy and barefoot standing near a light pole."

[Andrea]

Passengers with 'ISIS' T-shirts detained at JFK airport

http://7online.com/news/passengers-with-isis-t-shirts-detained-at-jfk/314528/

"A group of about 10 travelers were briefly detained at Kennedy Airport because several of them were wearing shirts with "ISIS" written on them.

And at least one of the passengers on Sun Country Airlines Flight 243 from Minneapolis to Kennedy Airport was carrying a bag with "ISIS" written on it

The passengers were questioned upon arrival at Kennedy Airport's Terminal 4 at noon, then released with no charges.

Aircraft cargo in the plane was swept and nothing suspicious was found.

The ISIS shirts were apparently from an overseas travel agency.

Sun Country Airlines has not responded to request for comment."

[Andrea]

Police search luggage with bomb-sniffing dog and pull passengers off plane after bag with logo similar to ISIS insignia causes security scare at New York airport

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-2762021/Security-scare-JFK-Airport-New-York-luggage-logo-similar-ISIS-insignia-noticed-Sun-Country-Airlines-flight.html

'I didn’t see luggage but there did seem to be some profiling going on because the people detained were wearing hijabs and clothing you see in the Middle East.’

[Andrea]

Innocent frequent flier detained after run-in with TSA

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20150204_TSA_jails_innocent_traveler_when_he_asks_ to_file_a_complaint.html

APPARENTLY, working as a supervisor for the Transportation Security Administration at Philadelphia International Airport comes with a perk: You get to throw people in jail for no good reason and still keep your job.

[GinaSofia]

Originally Posted by Andrea

Passengers with 'ISIS' T-shirts detained at JFK airport

http://7online.com/news/passengers-with-isis-t-shirts-detained-at-jfk/314528/

"A group of about 10 travelers were briefly detained at Kennedy Airport because several of them were wearing shirts with "ISIS" written on them.

And at least one of the passengers on Sun Country Airlines Flight 243 from Minneapolis to Kennedy Airport was carrying a bag with "ISIS" written on it

The passengers were questioned upon arrival at Kennedy Airport's Terminal 4 at noon, then released with no charges.

Aircraft cargo in the plane was swept and nothing suspicious was found.

The ISIS shirts were apparently from an overseas travel agency.

Sun Country Airlines has not responded to request for comment."

I'd pull them the fuck out too! Fuck ISIS and thank God for our security teams.

[Andrea]

Originally Posted by GinaSofia

I'd pull them the fuck out too! Fuck ISIS and thank God for our security teams.

Did you read the article? The ISIS logo was not the evil ISIS. It was an travel agency.

How did removing the passengers wearing shirts with a logo on them make flying any safer?