Latest TSA Outrage

[kaytieeldr]

"I'm not sure if I'm going to get it resolved," Weber said. "My mother is like a small child in her age. She has to be protected and care for, like child. I just resented them treating her that way.

And yet, someone protecting and caring for a small child wouldn't dream of having that child fly from Florida, connect in Atlanta, and end in Grand Rapids without several diapers handy. Oh, and that reporter really needs to learn grammar, spelling, and homonyms .

While researching the departure airport, I found this http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE75Q6FU20110627?irpc=932 update:
TSA denies making 95 year-old woman remove adult diaper
WASHINGTON | Mon Jun 27, 2011 5:14pm EDT
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Airport security officers at the Northwest Florida Regional Airport "did not require" a 95-year-old woman to remove her adult diaper, the Transportation Security Administration said on Monday.

"While every person and item must be screened before entering the secure boarding area, TSA works with passengers to resolve security alarms in a respectful and sensitive manner," TSA Spokesman Greg Soule said in an email to Reuters.

"We have reviewed the circumstances involving this screening and determined that our officers acted professionally, according to proper procedure and did not require this passenger to remove an adult diaper."

Over the weekend, social media sites such as Twitter were ablaze with talk about the incident, including claims that the woman was suffering from Leukemia.

Jean Weber, the woman's daughter, said on CNN that TSA agents would not clear her mother because the diaper had a wet substance. Weber said her only options were to retrieve a new diaper from her luggage or to miss the flight.

Weber said that the agents did perform their jobs professionally.

The TSA said various options were provided to the woman and her daughter during a private screening, but declined to offer more details saying the agency wanted to respect the woman's privacy.

(Reporting by Wendell Marsh; Editing by Jerry Norton)

 

[goofy4tink]

After watching an interview with the 95 y/o woman this morning.....it would seem that the TSA didn't ask her to remove the diaper. She volunteered to remove it to make the screening easier. Yes, she said it was a bit embarrassing, but that it was her dd that was the one who was embarrassed. She said that maybe she was too old to be embarressed by it.

 

[Brian Noble]

What? No more "ignore list?"

Actually, you are on mine. I only see your posts in the event someone else quotes them. Not a perfect solution, but better than nothing.

 

[kaytieeldr]

After watching an interview with the 95 y/o woman this morning.....it would seem that the TSA didn't ask her to remove the diaper. She volunteered to remove it to make the screening easier. Yes, she said it was a bit embarrassing, but that it was her dd that was the one who was embarrassed. She said that maybe she was too old to be embarressed by it.

So, wait. She's not as feeble and childlike as her daughter claims? She can actually... think and speak for herself???? My mother would be almost as old as this passenger - she would have been embarrassed at MY behavior if I'd done this (gone to the media). She didn't raise me like that - but it sounds as if the elder woman in this incident didn't raise her daughter that way, either

 

[kaytieeldr]

Actually, you are on mine. I only see your posts in the event someone else quotes them. Not a perfect solution, but better than nothing.

Sorry about that, Brian. On the other hand, we hope the topic is worthy of your attention

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

So, wait. She's not as feeble and childlike as her daughter claims? She can actually... think and speak for herself???? My mother would be almost as old as this passenger - she would have been embarrassed at MY behavior if I'd done this (gone to the media). She didn't raise me like that - but it sounds as if the elder woman in this incident didn't raise her daughter that way, either

It seems the lady would have been alot better off if she left the daugther at home!

AKK

 

[Missytara]

It seems the lady would have been alot better off if she left the daugther at home!

AKK

I have to agree; I saw the interview with the daughter on CNN and was appalled.

They offered for her to pull her bags off the flight and place her on another flight so that she could retrieve a clean diaper from the CHECKED baggage. She didn't carry any extras in her carry on. She said she didn't want to miss that flight.

She was hoping they would let her through security and she could buy more diapers in the airport, but she said she didn't even know if they were available for purchase.

They asked how her mother was doing. The daughter replied that she talked to her on the phone and she was doing fine (she didn't hang around very long).

What puzzled me was that she said that she was happy that family there was taking care of getting her into a nursing home.

I am not sure what her situation was at home; perhaps she has an ill husband/son/daughter, that she could no longer care of her mother.......and needed family assistance, but it just seemed odd she wasn't more prepared for the flight. And she was already back home yesterday.

 

[crashbb]

Actually, you are on mine. I only see your posts in the event someone else quotes them. Not a perfect solution, but better than nothing.

Annoying, isn't it?

I agree that the daughter seems to be the problem. Sounds like the woman was not "like a small child in her age".

That aiport is tiny. I cannot imagine thinking that there would be a store selling Depends (heck, I'd be surprised if a store there sold infant diapers). She may have been able to find Depends in Atlanta. Not sure I've ever seen Depends for sale, but then, I haven't been looking. Heathrow, for example, has a pretty much full on pharmacy (Boots), so they might have them there.

Crazy that she was flying all that way with no extra Depends.

 

[dzorn]

May I ask if they let her go to a bathroom to remove it, if there was anything suspiscious would not a terrorist have just flushed it?

Denise in MI

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yes, and possibly messed up (no pun intended) some of the airport's plumbing for a while.

But the TSA would have done exactly what we expect - prevented a potentially life-threatening device from getting aboard the plane.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Just a note...

As someone who wanders around airport gift shops a lot. I have NEVER seen adult diapers. Kids diapers are often sold in a one pack for which you will pay DEARLY!

 

[CPT Tripss]

I am not sure what you mean by cath bags. If you are referring to urostomy bags, then yes the contents are tested. Or so I am told by a couple of friends who have them. I would assume that ostomy bags are tested the same way.
A friend of mine has a prosthetic she wears for a breast. She has never been the subject of a pat down so I am not sure if they would test it or not. Or if it would show up on the x-ray. When you talk about breast implants, they are not removable. Or detectable by a pat down or the x-ray. So I imagine they are not checked.

If the 95 year old woman is helpless and should be treated like a child, all the more reason to search. If the daughter was a terrorist, she could have explosives in the depends.

And I love the way the media is playing up the word "diaper". Most people who need protective undergarments much prefer that the Depends be referred to as protective undergarments.

If that has actually happened, then either what TSA publishes on their website is extremelt inaccurate OR Airport Security Screeners violate the TSA protocol with some regularity.

Security Officers should not be asking you to remove your orthopedic shoes, appliances, or medical device (insulin pump, feeding tube, ostomy or urine bag, or exterior component of cochlear implant) at any time during the screening process.
Advise the Security Officer if you have an ostomy or urine bag. You will not be required to expose these devices for inspection.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/editorial_1370.shtm

 

[CPT Tripss]

snip

I'm not against any security- just in favor of common sense security.

Me too, and I would add "effective."

 

[crashbb]

Just a note...

As someone who wanders around airport gift shops a lot. I have NEVER seen adult diapers. Kids diapers are often sold in a one pack for which you will pay DEARLY!

Yes, I've never seen them either (and I wander the stores a lot - I tend to show up for flights early), but I haven't actually looked specifically for them.

 

[eliza61]

According to the OP, yes. According to ALL the responses to that post so far? Nope. You're right there with the rest of us.

And thats the real problem. It's been more than 6 months since the "evil empire TSA" crowds started in with the daily "look at what the rapist/murders/child molesters" stories and as millions and millions of people continue to fly, get scanned, get patted down without incident these stories become less and less effective.

the general public pretty much has figured out that yes, unfortunately the TSA like every other employer on the planet has rotten apples, that measures should be taken to weed out those rotten apples. That most people have not been "demeaned or degraded" they're more worried about catching their luggage as it goes through the scanner and where to get a cup of coffee.

Translation: at most people think it's an annoyance and are pissed that it some times holds up the line. Oh yeah, they're really feeling like criminals.

bottom line: Since November when we were supposed to have that huge airport boycott (that fizzled, like a wet fircracker on 4th of July) the flying public is more concerned about the cost of their flight than the TSA.

And I'm still waiting for the huge drop in air passengers that was supposedly going to happen due to this.


Is the incident horrible, no doubt. When a policemen beats and kills an unarmed citizen horrible, yep no doubt and police brutality happens a hell of a lot more than tsa foul ups yet I don't see any huge cry to get rid of all the cops.

Op is on a mission to get rid of the TSA. that's totally cool, don't think it's going to happen but hey every one should do what they are passionate about. So I totally support anyone who wants to get civic minded and get active.

Me, I'll continue to write my elected officials in support of the tsa and I'll keep flying and I'll keep reading our daily "evil TSA" post..

 

[dzorn]

Yes, and possibly messed up (no pun intended) some of the airport's plumbing for a while.

But the TSA would have done exactly what we expect - prevented a potentially life-threatening device from getting aboard the plane.

Or they would have set it off in the airport.

Denise in MI

 

[crashbb]

Or they would have set it off in the airport.

Denise in MI

Possibly, but the TSA mandate is to stop it from getting to the airplane.

Short of having a screening system set up on the highway leading to the airport, there is no way to prevent that possibility.

And, if they did set up such a screening, it would still be possible to set off something at the screening point (which would be crowded).

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

And thats the real problem. It's been more than 6 months since the "evil empire TSA" crowds started in with the daily "look at what the rapist/murders/child molesters" stories and as millions and millions of people continue to fly, get scanned, get patted down without incident these stories become less and less effective.

the general public pretty much has figured out that yes, unfortunately the TSA like every other employer on the planet has rotten apples, that measures should be taken to weed out those rotten apples. That most people have not been "demeaned or degraded" they're more worried about catching their luggage as it goes through the scanner and where to get a cup of coffee.

Translation: at most people think it's an annoyance and are pissed that it some times holds up the line. Oh yeah, they're really feeling like criminals.

bottom line: Since November when we were supposed to have that huge airport boycott (that fizzled, like a wet fircracker on 4th of July) the flying public is more concerned about the cost of their flight than the TSA.

And I'm still waiting for the huge drop in air passengers that was supposedly going to happen due to this.


Is the incident horrible, no doubt. When a policemen beats and kills an unarmed citizen horrible, yep no doubt and police brutality happens a hell of a lot more than tsa foul ups yet I don't see any huge cry to get rid of all the cops.

Op is on a mission to get rid of the TSA. that's totally cool, don't think it's going to happen but hey every one should do what they are passionate about. So I totally support anyone who wants to get civic minded and get active.

Me, I'll continue to write my elected officials in support of the tsa and I'll keep flying and I'll keep reading our daily "evil TSA" post..

Eliza....you have a wonderful way of making things so clear!
I totally agree!

AKK

 

[CPT Tripss]

SNIP

Is the incident horrible, no doubt. When a policemen beats and kills an unarmed citizen horrible, yep no doubt and police brutality happens a hell of a lot more than tsa foul ups yet I don't see any huge cry to get rid of all the cops.

Op is on a mission to get rid of the TSA. that's totally cool, don't think it's going to happen but hey every one should do what they are passionate about. So I totally support anyone who wants to get civic minded and get active.

SNIP..

TSA leadership has not figured out how to get rid of their bad apples. They consistantly hide behind the airport security screener's "right to privacy" when it comes to answering about the incidents. Most of the police departments are more forthcoming in responding to valid citizen complaints.

Don't mischaracterize what you suppose is my "mission." Sensible and effective security screening is needed before getting on a plane.

I just don't see why I have don't have the same rights in dealing with an airport security screener as I do in dealing with a cop. I think that the evidence, based on "red team" tests, is that airport security screeners fail to detect weapons and explosives way too often. They also generate way too many false positives and then deman and humiliate people to clear these.

Too bad the disabled Marine's thread ( http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2748834 ) got closed so quickly. It would have been interesting if he posted it here. Some TSA sycophants seemed to believe his story.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Too bad the disabled Marine's thread ( http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2748834 ) got closed so quickly. It would have been interesting if he posted it here.

It got closed because the disABILITIES Board isn't a place for political debate. He updated the thread, and the Moderator closed it. She will - really, she will - add any updates he provides.