TSA "Agent" Spills Human Remains; Laughs...?

Zidac

Zidac

Well-Known Member
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/lifestyle/2012/06/ashes-spilled-after-tsa-confrontation/

A man carrying his grandfather’s ashes home from Florida’s Orlando airport is furious after a confrontation with a Transportation Security Administration ended with the deceased man’s ashes spilled on the airport floor.​
John Gross was leaving Florida with the remains of his grandfather in a tightly sealed jar marked “Human Remains, ” ABC Indianapolis affiliate RTV6 reported.​
​
“They opened up my bag, and I told them, ‘Please, be careful. These are my grandpa’s ashes,’” Gross told the station. “She picked up the jar. She opened it up.”​
Gross said the TSA agent used her finger to sift through the ashes and accidentally spilled it. He said one-third to one-half of the ashes spilled and that the agent laughed as he tried to gather what he could from the floor.​
“She didn’t apologize. She started laughing. I was on my hands and knees picking up bone fragments. I couldn’t pick up all, everything that was lost. I mean, there was a long line behind me.”​
With regard to the transportation of human remains, the TSA web site reads, “Passengers are allowed to carry a crematory container as part of their carry-on luggage, but the container must pass through the X-ray machine.​
Out of respect to the deceased and their family and friends, under no circumstances will an officer open the container even if the passenger requests this be done. Documentation from the funeral home is not sufficient to carry a crematory container through security and onto a plane without screening.”​
The web site also states it may be possible to transport the remains as checked baggage, depending on the air carrier.​
“I want an apology,” said Gross. “I want an apology from TSA. I want an apology from the lady who opened the jar and laughed at me. I want them to help me understand where they get off treating people like this.”​
TSA did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment.​
UPDATE: 4:30 p.m. EDT​
The TSA sent the following statement to ABC News:​
“TSA recognizes the importance of screening human remains with utmost respect and dignity while remaining vigilant of our security mission to protect the traveling public. It is a TSA policy that under no circumstance should a container holding remains be opened. We have been unable to reach the family to learn more about their perspective on the incident, however, our initial review concluded that the circumstances as described in some reports are inconsistent with what we believe transpired.”​
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I really wouldn't take anything near and dear with me on an airplane where I don't have 100% control over it.

I presume the TSA (or an enterprising ramper) is going to dig through my bag when I check it, I also presume anything I have in my bag is subject to opening, no matter what it is.

But then, I'm not that attached to graven objects. Now my dad's old rucksack from Korea, I'll strange a baby harp seal over that. But ashes, those ashes aren't my father.
 
Derg said:
I really wouldn't take anything near and dear with me on an airplane where I don't have 100% control over it.

I presume the TSA (or an enterprising ramper) is going to dig through my bag when I check it, I also presume anything I have in my bag is subject to opening, no matter what it is.

But then, I'm not that attached to graven objects. Now my dad's old rucksack from Korea, I'll strange a baby harp seal over that. But ashes, those ashes aren't my father.
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It wasn't in a checked bag and there wasn't any way he could get it on the airplane without allowing it to pass through the X-ray machine.

However, the point isn't what you or I or any single individual care or don't care about. The point is that people who are well paid and purport to serve the public are not serving them well.
 
I don't believe this, yet. Will wait for confirmation. Every other day there is a new TSA story and I believe most of them, but this seems a little too out there. Why would a TSA agent want to open the jar? If I was a TSA agent I wouldn't be willing to sift through someone's ashes let alone laugh about it. As usual something is missing but we will probably never know what actually happened unless some security camera footage leaks out.
 
Houston said:
It wasn't in a checked bag and there wasn't any way he could get it on the airplane without allowing it to pass through the X-ray machine.

However, the point isn't what you or I or any single individual care or don't care about. The point is that people who are well paid and purport to serve the public are not serving them well.
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Oh I know, but if it wasn't the TSA it'd be "Halliburton Security Services at Sky Harbor Airport".

I just have a little "TSA Outrage" fatigue. I don't know, for every TSA officer that does something ridiculous are a few passengers that do something equally as ridiculous. But I guess I've been pretty fortunate not to have anything I've personally experienced that made me want to pull my hair out in almost two decades of flying to pay for that sweet, delicious crispy but toothsome bacon.

Well, there have been some things that drove me nuts, but it happened in other countries where if the TSA makes you crazy, well, India, France, Great Britain and a few others are going to make you want to paint your butt yellow with blake stripes and scream "Caution!! Caution!!"*

But then I have Global Entry, use the Known Crewmember Lines and I have a plan to minimize time at the checkpoint before I leave the house when I non-rev in civvies.

* #recurringdream


Sent from my TRS-80
 
Derg said:
Oh I know, but if it wasn't the TSA it'd be "Halliburton Security Services at Sky Harbor Airport".
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We shall soon see. MCO is working on converting from TSA to private screeners.

While I'm a card carrying member of the TSA Outrage group, I'll be the first to say I find little to complain about when it comes to the screeners. For the most part, they are just folks looking for a job and trying to do the best they can. What sets my hair on fire is the self-serving levels of management above them.
 
Bloody hell.

Can we bring back drawing-and-quartering as a punishment?

No?

How about a good old-fashioned garrote?

No? Okay then.
 
Derg said:
Oh I know, but if it wasn't the TSA it'd be "Halliburton Security Services at Sky Harbor Airport".
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Mention the TSA again and i'll make it a personal mission to confront you in person about an agency I loved, and was started more than 10 years months ago you.......




:D
 
Derg said:
Oh I know, but if it wasn't the TSA it'd be "Halliburton Security Services at Sky Harbor Airport".

I just have a little "TSA Outrage" fatigue. I don't know, for every TSA officer that does something ridiculous are a few passengers that do something equally as ridiculous. But I guess I've been pretty fortunate not to have anything I've personally experienced that made me want to pull my hair out in almost two decades of flying to pay for that sweet, delicious crispy but toothsome bacon.

Well, there have been some things that drove me nuts, but it happened in other countries where if the TSA makes you crazy, well, India, France, Great Britain and a few others are going to make you want to paint your butt yellow with blake stripes and scream "Caution!! Caution!!"*

But then I have Global Entry, use the Known Crewmember Lines and I have a plan to minimize time at the checkpoint before I leave the house when I non-rev in civvies.

* #recurringdream


Sent from my TRS-80
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Can you non-rev through the KCM in business casual? It's coming to MCO and would make life a little better for my commute.
 
Zidac said:
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/lifestyle/2012/06/ashes-spilled-after-tsa-confrontation/
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Regarding the TSA statement:
07-minister.jpg
 
Houston said:
"We have been unable to reach the family."

Half the news agencies in the country have talked with the guy, but the super sleuths at TSA have been unable to contact him.
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*shrug*

I honestly see it (and almost all TSA-related occurrences) as another TSO thinking that because he/she has a badge, and a blue shirt, they're law enforcement. Not. Cool.
 
Autothrust Blue said:
*shrug*

I honestly see it (and almost all TSA-related occurrences) as another TSO thinking that because he/she has a badge, and a blue shirt, they're law enforcement. Not. Cool.
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These are also the people that come on your plane do a "security" check and forget to see the used razor blades and screw driver set Mx forgot on board. They are not allowed on my plane unless they show me a checklist and tell me what kind of plane it is. I also ask them to remove their badge and give me another form of identification.
 
Soul Brotha' said:
Can you non-rev through the KCM in business casual? It's coming to MCO and would make life a little better for my commute.
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Negatron.

However, that would be awesome.

On a related note, a flight attendant onboard my commuter flight was complaining about their lack of access to the KCM line and I told her that she could go from Zero (hours) to Hero at ATP in a number of convenient locations and become a professional pilot.
 
Sorry, but I find the TSA's explanation a lot more likely than the passenger's. Someone opening a container of human remains and sifting through it with his finger? Really? I'm not buying it. Sounds more like a passenger looking for attention and maybe a lawsuit.
 
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