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TSA pulls pants off of elderly man during search
It always never fails to amaze us what sort of crazy screening the TSA is doing on everyday passengers. You've probably seen the pictures of the security officer frisking the nun at Detroit's airport and were thinking what we were thinking -- what is a nun going to sneak into an airport? But the TSA can't discriminate against anyone based on their race, color, creed or age, so they have search even the most innocent looking people just like everyone else.
A 71 year old man was recently searched because he had a prosthetic knee, and the TSA officer went so far as to remove the man's pants in plain sight of the checkpoint to insure that he wasn't hiding anything. Check out the news coverage of the incident below -- we'd be angry too!
A 71 year old man was recently searched because he had a prosthetic knee, and the TSA officer went so far as to remove the man's pants in plain sight of the checkpoint to insure that he wasn't hiding anything. Check out the news coverage of the incident below -- we'd be angry too!
10 tips for smarter flying
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 13)
IS Jul 29th 2008 7:27PM
TJ where have you been living under a rock! The TSA was established after 911 check your current events. DAH!!!!
Kristin Jul 28th 2008 3:51PM
If you just looked in the news WOMEN were terrorists overseas! And for terrrorists being dark skinned - what color were the men who blew up the Federal building in Oklamhoa? They were white. A terrorist is a terrorist whether they are international or domestic. TSA looks at everyone. Even before 9/11 newscrews were having people in wheelchairs to see what they could get past security and the security wasn't TSA. The people in the wheelchairs had knifes & such and got through. No one is excluded in the searches. And in case you were unaware, be extremely rude, demanding or hostile and you won't fly either. Give all 45,000 of us TSA's a break. Sure there's some over zealous employees, but for the most of us, we follow the book and get you and your luggage to its destination. Please remember that once you buy a ticket you and your luggage are subject to being checked. Don't want that...don't fly!
b52b1b2 Jul 28th 2008 5:01PM
McVeigh was a terrorist. Or did you forget he was a white guy and blew up the Federal building in Oklahoma City killing all those people and kids included. Or are you just to dumb and ignorant and need to complain about something.
SD Jul 28th 2008 4:54PM
They are not just from The Middle East. They are every race, religion and culture. Open your history books more and read about Oklahoma, Russia, Ireland, England, Kosovo,etc...
Terrorism is not limited by age either.
old enough to remember Jul 28th 2008 5:02PM
Actually, the Pan Am flight that was brought down over Lockerbie a number of years back occured when a young, white woman took what she thought was a present from her Arab boyfriend. It was a bomb set into a tape recorder. So, yes, anyone can be a terrorist, even if they don't fit the profile. And yes, I have been stopped and searched because when I have a lot of walking to do, such as at an airport, I wear knee braces that have metal supports. I make sure to wear loose pants when I fly.
Dave Jul 28th 2008 5:10PM
That 85 year old could be a terrorist. Because of 9/11
Dave Jul 28th 2008 5:21PM
That 85 year old could be a terrorist. Because of 9/11
TJ Jul 28th 2008 5:30PM
Youre all right, we should give up our freedoms to give the illusion we're 100 % safe. TSA disrespects the elderly with preposterous and questionable searches like this. Given 911 was a turning point in our history its almost "safe" to say that the people who are of midle eastern descent are the ones responsible for the hijackings. Old grandpa who can barely hold his urine wont be the mastermind behind any future attack on our own soil. How would TSA or anyone have prevented the Oklahoma disaster ? Im not saying domestic "terrorism" doesnt happen but this article is about an OLD man who was disrespected and humiliated at an airport by some jackass TSA who needed his daily power fix. Go ahead and live in the illusion of safety while your rights are being flushed down toilet if that makes you able to sleep at night.
Lovely Jul 30th 2008 11:13AM
I would have to agree with you 100%, because now that US citizens are being scrutinized, the terrorists are the ones who actually make it thru without being searched.
Morris Coffman Jul 28th 2008 6:11PM
Remind me again how many airplane hijackings we have had in the U.S. since the TSA beefed up its security measures? Oh, that's right, NONE!
cj Jul 28th 2008 8:28PM
there hadn't been any hijackings in the US for probably 20 or more years before 9/11 so using the fact that there haven't been any since then doesn't prove anything
goldman Jul 28th 2008 2:52PM
It's a Nazi sex thing with TSA.
SHERRY Jul 28th 2008 2:54PM
THUIS STRU FOLLOWS THRU WITH WHAT HAPPENED TO MY HUSBAND AND MY NIECE AT PGYH AIRPORT WHEN WE WERE FLYING TO DISNEY. THEY MADE MY HUSBAND PULL HIS PANTS DOWN TO SHOW HIS SCARS FROM HIS ARTIFICIAL HIP TO PROVE THATS WHY THEY GOT METAL. ARE THEY GONNA MAKE PEOPLE START CUTTING OPEN THEIR BODIES TO PROVE THIS CRAP? AND AS FOR MY NIECE SHE AS ONLY 13 AND THEY WERE REFUSING TO ALLOW ME HER GUARDIAN TO BE IN THE ROOM WHEN THEY SEARCHED HER.SHE WAS WEARING A PAIR OF JEANS WITH METAL RIVITS AND STUDS ON HER, I TOLD TEHM SHE WAS ONLY 13 AND THEY SAID SHES 18 AND I SAID I HAVE HER BIRTH CERTIFICATE TO PROVE IT. HOW IUDIOTIC IS THIS GONNA GET?
Jennifer Jul 28th 2008 3:53PM
Thank goodness they searched both of them. Everyone was safe. I don't care who you are. If the buzzer sounds...you should be searched I'm sure they had other employees present when they searched your niece. Why would they have you present...you could be a terrorist too. You don't remember 911? I don't want that to happen again. Period!!! They never saw you or your husband or your niece before. They don't know anything about you. Again, if the buzzer goes off...you get searched. It is for EVERYONE'S SAFETY!!!!! They are doing a GREAT job!!!!
Joe M Jul 28th 2008 3:19PM
I fly more than100 flights per year and rarely encounter such difficulty. Last week I saw a woman berate a TSA agent in Philly because she said she had less than 3 ounces of liquid in a container marked as 6.4 ounces. He explained that it's the size of the container as well as the contents. She wasn't hearing it because it was not what she wanted to hear. She threatened to sue him because it was an expensive face cream and she was not giving it up. Eventually she did as a Philadelphia Police Officer approached. In my opinion, the TSA agent should get an award for keeping his cool as she continued to run her mouth with more than a few curse words. Put yourself in their position. It's not an easy job and it doesn't pay big money. From time to time I may not be happy with their demeaner, however, they have never done more to me than apply the rules that are applied to everyone. If you are an infrequent flyer, prepare to fly with the end in mind. Go to the TSA website and read and understand the rules of engagement, be nice and follow those rules and all will be well as it is for me more than 100 times per year.
Joe M. Plymouth Meeting, PA
SHERRY Jul 28th 2008 3:03PM
SORRY FELLA BUT THEY DONT CARE IF YOU HAVE AN XRAY TO SHOW YOU THAT YOU HAVE METAL IN YOUR BODY. MY HUSBAND SHOWED THEM HIS VA PAPERS THAT STATED HE HAD A TITANIUM HIP BUT THAT DIDNT STOP THEM FROM MAKING HIM PULL HIS PANTS DOWN.
Roberto Benitez Jul 28th 2008 3:18PM
The Feds have touted the Real ID Act as a solution to identification yet my federal military ID wasn't accepted by TSA at Detroit and the agent and supervisor insisted on a state driver's license because they weren't trained to recognize military IDs. Yet the federal government manuals that picture every military ID currently in use........The simple fact is that the TSA has lost sight of common sense. People who are essentially sexually assaulted should scream rape, floor the agent, press felony charges in both state and federal courts, and sue the airlines and the government, although the government will claim sovereign immunity as if the First Amendment was merely a scrap of paper. Oh, I forgot, the Constitution is a scrap of paper.
Karin Jul 28th 2008 3:22PM
Those crass and ill educated buffoons who are employed with our tax dollars by TSA should be run through an extensive course on manners and appropriate behavior.
Under no circumstances should anyone be required to disrobe in plain sight of other passengers. Just because TSA screeners are hot off the McDonald's employment rolls, is no reason for them to violate the privacy of others.
Furthermore, if Homeland Security is so concerned about protecting the USA, they might start at the Mexican border where two Arabs were apprehended recently after sneaking across illegally. And while those two were caught, how many were not. We have 15 million illegal aliens. How many of them are terrorists from the Middle East? Homeland Security, my butt!!
luckyme Jul 28th 2008 3:44PM
Good point. Is there a class that can teach someone common sense?
Jennifer Jul 28th 2008 6:22PM
You morons that are complaining about the TSA would be the same morons screaming to the government if a terrorist overtook a plane because they were not searched throughly. A few minutes of inconvience is worth the SAFETY of ALL. These "Americans" feel that they are sooooo above everyone else that they should not be put through a few minutes of searching. Well, I am a proud American and I wouldn't complain about any search on my body if the buzzer sounded. Grow up and think of others. Even an elderly person in a wheelchair could carry a bomb...search him....keep us ALL safe. Thank you TSA!!!!