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Woman: The TSA broke my ankle
A Washington state woman is on the hunt for a lawyer to go after the Transportation Security Administration, after screeners at the Pasco, Washington airport made her remove a foot brace she was wearing for a sprained ankle.Screeners at the airport not only made her remove the brace -- apparently against regulations -- but then made her balance on one foot, then the other.
The woman, Lona Dunlap, had a sprained left ankle and had been told to keep off it.
It seems that the screener asked her, essentially, to prove it, which is why Dunlap was forced to do the one leg shuffle.
Visiting two doctors after the incident, Dunlap claims her ankle now has two fractures.
"Then she made me lift up each foot individually and put all the weight on it. It was incredibly painful," Dunlap tells KEPR TV out of Pasco.
According to the TSA Web site, screening regulations do not require the removal of leg or foot braces, but rather screeners are required to swab those braces down for explosive traces.
A TSA spokesman out of Spokane told the television station that the agency is looking "seriously" into the matter, including reviewing video of the encounter.
Who else is causing trouble in the skies?
Filed under: Airports
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
Emland Oct 22nd 2008 9:13AM
I hope you follow up on this story and I would also like to see a follow up on the article where the TSA was accused of attacking a woman (when it was clearly the Airport Authority).
It is very easy to accuse someone of doing something outrageous. Everyone hears the horrible accusation, few notice when it is retracted or proved untrue.
Speaking as a former screener, the reason I doubt this story is 1.) people exaggerate, especially if they want to sue and 2.) it takes a lot of time to do that - time that the screeners don't have to play around like that.
If the screener did something this incredibly stupid, then the passenger deserves to receive compensation. The screener, lead and supervisor should also face a reprimand and need to be re-trained.
Barb Oct 22nd 2008 5:30PM
I've flown in/out of Pasco many, many times in the last 15 years. This is a very small airport and if it weren't for the business people flying out the first thing in the AM there would be very little business.
I believe the treatment by the TSA there as there is little else to do. I've also been put through the mill by them. I'm just not a "sue" happy person. You guessed it, I'm from an older generation.
I'm not sure I can believe the breaking of two ankle bones and being able to go on her way. I broke two ankle bones last year, whether braced or not, there was no way I could walk on it at all.
Joe Oct 22nd 2008 1:36PM
I've been through Pasco a few times it only has a couple gates and most of the time the screeners aren't doing anything. They were also very rude to me when I flew through there.
betty Oct 23rd 2008 6:32AM
I don't doubt the story ONE MINUTE. I've been thru airports and witnessed similar stuff. ROA forced a very elderly lady... (late 80's) to give up her walker and walk thru the metal detector UNASSISTED! Oh yea... AFTER she had to kick off her shoes.
THEY DID NOT ASSIST HER in putting her shoes back on. They assist NO ONE in putting shoes back on, even the handicapped. NOR will they get a chair...etc for that person to sit on while they try to get them back on. SHAMEFUL.... I KNOW they did that to me. I said..."I can't get my shoes on with out a chair or place to sit...." THey pointed to a place some 25 or 30 ft away and said..."there is a seat over there"..... so you have to walk on their filthy floor, with all your bags.... barefoot all the way over there...HOPE that your shoes are still there when you walk back...
it's shameful...
it's shameful you doubt such stories when you have witnessed them IF you really are a TSA
susan Oct 23rd 2008 8:49AM
I too, have witnessed the beyond irritating behavior of airport security. Thanks to the Homeland Security, these people are able to getaway with any bloody tactics they want. I have seen an elderly woman post-stroke in a Wheelchair, made to stand up without assistance so these ridiculous people can "search" her body clothes and w/c. Please, I do not want to hear that this is needed for America's security. This industry is going too far. The jobs are given to less than qualified people who take their jobs way too seriously by taking away innocent travels, personal belongings and their rights. I am sick of it.
Best Answer - Chosen by Voters
Yes. I am afraid their requirements to passengers are limitless. Next step, they may impose "no hand carries at all", and soon "no clothing/shoes(must wear TSA provided outfit only)" article might be added. What they have to do is to invent far more advanced weapon/explosive detectors, not keep stripping off passengers' belongings.
1 year ago
angie Oct 23rd 2008 9:23AM
The screeners are human, just like anybody else, and enjoy a bad joke or pushing people around. I think this is a case of the screener misusing her position. Last year, a screener made me remove my belt, and stand on 2 circles on the floor, in an area which was not curtained off. She made me stand with my arms extended, palms up while she took my purse into another area to inspect. My pants fell, and when I picked them up, she said now we will have to start all over. we shouldn't be asked to trust people we don't know with our wallets, money credit cards, and sensitive information. I was truly embarrassed in front of traveling companions, co-workers who still talk about the pants situation, and the screener detained me long enough to miss my flight! At this point, I believe anything could happen when the screeners are involved. And, I was not carrying anything illegal, or against airline regulations. Just a crabby b*tch trying to ruin someone's day I was the lucky one!
Lisa McDonald Oct 23rd 2008 9:43AM
Just because you worked as a screener and did not abuse your authority does not mean it doesn't happen. When I was 17 (pre 9-11) an airport screener hit me in the face with my own backpack then dump the contents out on the floor and told me if I wanted any of my belongings I had to get on the ground and pick them up. Some people get off on being sadistic assholes. Believe me I should have gotten a lawyer.
ras Oct 23rd 2008 11:01AM
I think you are naive to believe that this doesn't happen and that all screeners are capable, conscientious and sensitive. I have seen too many people abused for no reason other than the TSA rep can.
As for the people commenting about not being able to walk on the foot that was broken, I suggest you re-read the comment. Fractured doesn't mean broken necessarily, it could also mean cracked, which could be walked on.
Unfortunately, Congress no longer holds any of the government agencies accountable for their behavior (e.g. Federal Reserve, Treasury, etc.), so the only check and balance left is for the public to avail themselves of the right to sue. Want to cut down on lawsuits? Stop have TSA screeners who don't know the procedures proceeding anyway. If they don't know what they do not know, get them away from the public.
Larry Oct 23rd 2008 11:51AM
Instead of re-training the TSA rep and the supervisor, how about firing them on the spot. There are plenty of people looking for overpaid government jobs. These two have already been trained abd obviously they didn't learn. Another case of obvious power abuse by someone who can't handle it.
flex728 Oct 23rd 2008 1:41PM
To all the people who complain about "intrusive" screening and violation of their rights there are 2 recommendations for you.
1. If you dont like how youre getting screened to board a plane... dont. You can always fly Greyhound. There are no physical searches to board a bus.
2. You consent to being screened the second you present yourself to be screened. You and you alone give up your rights and you and you alone subject yourself to the "intrusive" screening. Again. Fly Greyhound.
The TSA assumes there is a bomb in every bag or a knife or gun on every person until proven otherwise. Dont ask "do I look like terrorist to you?" because the answer is yes. But I'm white... So was Timothy McVey.
But I'm a woman... So were the suicide bombers that took down 2 Russian aircraft in Aug 2004.
Im sure the people on those planes would have enjoyed a little more intrusiveness when being screened.
If you dont like getting searched then dont fly. It is a luxury not a right
former Pasco flyer Oct 23rd 2008 2:31PM
I have flown out of Pasco many times. I have had problems with rude, unprofessional screeners in Pasco. My advice is to take it slow through the gate and keep a close eye on your personal articles to make sure they are not stolen. I would be very quick to request assistance from a manager. Good luck!
Baron Oct 22nd 2008 9:45AM
How big was this person? It would take a lot of pressure to turn a sprained ankle into a fractured ankle. I dare say, unless they were huge, that it was already fractured.
Joe Oct 22nd 2008 1:39PM
I agree with this one. Unless your huge standing on a sprained ankle will not break it. A sprain has nothing to do with a break. A sprain is in the tendon not the bone. She may have had a prior fracture that enlarged, but not that developed by standing on it. Again unless she is huge.
LARRY Oct 23rd 2008 7:26AM
WHERE DID YOU GET YOUR MEDICAL TRAINING? I HAVE BEEN WORKING IN SECURITY MOST OF MY LIFE, (DOD) AND I CAN TELL YOU THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOME PEOPLE THAT WILL ABUSE THEIR AUTHORILY. I'VE HAD TO FIRE SEVERAL AFTER REPEATED COMPLAINTS. SOME PEOPLE LET THE GUN GET TO HEAVY.
Alex Oct 25th 2008 6:39PM
Now that's just not true.
A sprained ankle means the ankle is weak. If she was forced to stand on it, she could have easily rolled the weight of her body onto one side of her ankle and fractured the bones.
It does not at all mean she is heavy.
It's EXTREMELY ignorant to make a comment like that. As a person who's dealt with (very) severe foot problems, I understand how easy it is to break, fracture, tear, twist things in your feet. The bones are little.
Chuck Oct 23rd 2008 6:49AM
I tend to believe this story, since I've had similar problems with TSA personnel. Most of the TSA people have been great, but a few are total idiots. A week after I had a back operation, I had to walk through the scanner without my cane, and without any help. When I tried to balance myself by holding the side of the scanner, I was told to walk out and back in, unaided. Then, as other posters have mentioned, I also had to stumble about 20' to a chair, and put my shoes on, again with no help. To make matters worse, the TSA person at the baggage scanner dropped my camera bag, breaking a lense and filter. The incredibly complex paperwork required to be reimbursed (ORIGINAL receipts!) isn't worth the trouble.
Aisley Oct 23rd 2008 7:39AM
I also don't doubt it for a second. There are a lot of different stories out there that were proved to be true. And the only thing they have in common is the TSA people. I must admit I do not have a outrageous story of my own, but, boy!, have I seen them giving other people a ridicuolosly hard time.
Robert Oct 23rd 2008 7:12AM
When the next flight crashes into a building or explodes in mid air all the bitching will stop. These people in the tsa have to deal with rude unreasonable people all day long. When my wife flew out of Baltimore Washington International she was treated with unmost respect and was helped by the tsa persons because she had a knee operation and needed asistance. Give these folks a break dealing with the public all day is a bitch of a job.
tonyv49 Oct 23rd 2008 8:07AM
robert, i understand somewhat , & yes it is a stressful job, but they decided to do that, & some TSA agents take it too far, some people will have horror stories to relay, far as security, that should have been done way before 9/11 (lost two cousins in that tragedy) the gov't took too long to implement this action & now people suffer the indignities of this & it will get worse !!!
peace to all.
MMC Oct 23rd 2008 8:17AM
If it's that much of a "bitch of a job", maybe they should look for a different one. They chose the job. They have no right to complain about the public.