Came thorough AMS yesterday on the way back from Prague.
DL opened the gate for screening an hour-and-ten-minutes before the flight was to leave - I arrived within minutes after it opened and found a line 50 feet long down the concourse. Fortunately, they had a business class access line (no one waiting) that skipped the regular line. Inside the roped-off-interview area there were another 30+ people that had been interviewed and were then lined up for the x-ray. Although 2 screening stations are installed, AMS and Delta were only operating ONE (for an oversold 767). In fact, it was so crowded and hot that they weren't even bringing in folks for the inane interviews until the line moved a bit (about a 3 minute wait for me, longer for Y).
Once I was interviewed, I got into the snaking line for the lone operating x-ray/WTMD. Frustrating because of the US "shoes off" edict, yet most European passengers are used to being able to leave shoes on. It was VERY hot in the line area, and it was moving excruciatingly slowly (15 minutes+). There was nowhere to sit inside the roped off area.
As we reached the x-ray, the passenger ahead of me fainted and went down, splitting her head open (blood on the floor). Apparently she'd been in line 25 minutes (before and after the interview) and at one point asked where she could sit, and was told she couldn't. Likewise, she was denied a request for water before going down (can't be too safe, can we?). The security folks didn't move for about 30 seconds, then were more concerned about making sure no passenger got inside the ropes as opposed to helping the woman. At least her companion was there to help.
Meanwhile, the (classy) folks behind me said "step over her or go around".
(and it wasn't even a flight to JFK
)
Finally got through the line in 20 minutes. Delta made us exchange our boarding passes (issued by Skyteam partner Czech Airlines for the DL flights)... before they'd load the checked bags.
I did later see the woman who went down sitting in the boarding area being tended to. I hope she got on the flight...
Leaves me wondering how many people need to get injured or hurt because of the screening process and the lack of efficiency on the part of the airlines & government/airport screening authorities.