Palm Springs Airport Evacuated for Nothing
#16
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: 대한민국 (South Korea) - ex-PVG (上海)
Programs: UA MM / LT Gold (LT UC), DL SM, AA PLT (AC), OZ, KE; GE and Korean SES (like GE); Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,996
Years ago, I fell asleep at FRA, the same day as a small bomb was exploded outside the airport, so there was added security. I was awakened by police who asked me to take my bag and follow them. I was directed to a room with no windows. I was told to take each item out of the bag and hold it up to a tv camera. After I did so, the door opens, and I was told I could go on my way. I was a little nervous, but there were no flight delays, no fear among other travellers, no evacuations, etc. Seems the German police had their act together.
#17
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,012
Because the passenger's response has no relevance to the problem at hand.
The passenger will always respond with some plausible explanation of what the item is. Even in the extremely rare case where the item was, in fact, a bomb, the passenger would respond with some plausible explanation. Therefore, the passenger's response offers no useful information to the TSO.
The passenger will always respond with some plausible explanation of what the item is. Even in the extremely rare case where the item was, in fact, a bomb, the passenger would respond with some plausible explanation. Therefore, the passenger's response offers no useful information to the TSO.
Although the TSA obviously can't base the decision to clear an item on what a pax says it is, surely common sense would dictate that the pax's explanation could go a long way to resolving the issue without resorting to destroying the bag!
I mean, come on. Pax says, "Oh, yes, I forgot I had a jar of peanut butter in there." Is the logical thing to do: (1) blow the bag up just in case; or (2) swab the bag for ETD, and then take a look manually at the item(s) in question?
I hope the pax sues the crap out of the TSA and the individual "9 year TSA veteran" who identified the "anomaly," and anyone else involved, too. No, I don't think those suits will go far, but they would at least bring some much-needed publicity to the TSA idiocy in situations like this.
I'm reminded of the morons in DEN who threatened to turn me over to the FBI "because of the times we live in" and the fact they can't handle ETD swabs properly and who detained me for nearly an hour. "Abundance of caution" my behind. Abundance of stupidity is more like it.
#19
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: DL, WN, US, Avis, AA
Posts: 662
Because the passenger's response has no relevance to the problem at hand.
The passenger will always respond with some plausible explanation of what the item is. Even in the extremely rare case where the item was, in fact, a bomb, the passenger would respond with some plausible explanation. Therefore, the passenger's response offers no useful information to the TSO.
The passenger will always respond with some plausible explanation of what the item is. Even in the extremely rare case where the item was, in fact, a bomb, the passenger would respond with some plausible explanation. Therefore, the passenger's response offers no useful information to the TSO.
#20
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Baltimore, MD USA
Programs: Southwest Rapid Rewards. Tha... that's about it.
Posts: 4,330
Or, to be more accurate, he should have been fired immediately. You know, two and a half years ago, when this happened.
#21
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Thailand, Phuket
Programs: Emirates, Thai, TK
Posts: 441
"At approximately 5:45 a.m. PDT, Transportation Security Administration officers at Palm Springs International Airport detected a suspicious item while X-ray screening a passenger's carry-on bag. For the safety of the travelers, the terminal has been evacuated and the checkpoint is closed."
TSA employee are NOT officers but normal employees.
Calling them officers is a big disgraces to real (Police etc) officers
TSA employee are NOT officers but normal employees.
Calling them officers is a big disgraces to real (Police etc) officers