Yet another laptop blowed up by the TSA
Nov 2, 2004, 3:12 pm
#1
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Yet another laptop blowed up by the TSA
29 year old, tired and hungry has his laptop blown up because TSA thought it contained a blasting cap. After destruction of laptop, no blasting cap. No bomb. No real explanation. At least he wasn't charged with any crime (despite being held overnight for questioning).
http://www.newbernsj.com/SiteProcess...&Section=Local
I feel so much safer.
A man attempting to board a US Airways flight at Craven Regional Airport had his computer confiscated and blown up Saturday by federal authorities believing it contained an explosive device.
<snip>
Several people questioned about the incident were instructed not to talk about the matter.
<snip>
The laptop was X-rayed and the initial findings suggested that a blasting cap was embedded in the laptop floppy disk drive.
<snip>
No blasting cap was discovered in the residue, sources close to the investigation said.
Larry Scantlin, airport director, said Monday that he knew little about the incident.
"I know a bomb was not involved," he said.
<snip>
Several people questioned about the incident were instructed not to talk about the matter.
<snip>
The laptop was X-rayed and the initial findings suggested that a blasting cap was embedded in the laptop floppy disk drive.
<snip>
No blasting cap was discovered in the residue, sources close to the investigation said.
Larry Scantlin, airport director, said Monday that he knew little about the incident.
"I know a bomb was not involved," he said.
I feel so much safer.
Nov 2, 2004, 3:17 pm
#2
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If it was my laptop, there would have been at least $100,000 worth of research data on the HD and no backup available. 
Check, please.
Check, please.
Nov 2, 2004, 4:07 pm
#6
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Not to be an apologist, but it probably wasn't the TSA that blew the thing up. TSA probably referred to LEO/FBI when then overreacted and destroyed the man's property.
Any of the TSA folks know what they mean by "11 hits?" Is that ETD speak or something?
That said, this guy deserves a heck of a lot of cash compensation and an apology from all agencies/individuals involved.
Tim Flynn, an FBI spokesman, said the 29-year-old Charlotte man was detained overnight for questioning, but was not charged with any crime.
Innocent man detained overnight and not charged?
It had better be under investigation. Somebody needs to be charged with a crime here, and my guess is it's not the 29-year-old Charlotte man.
Any of the TSA folks know what they mean by "11 hits?" Is that ETD speak or something?
That said, this guy deserves a heck of a lot of cash compensation and an apology from all agencies/individuals involved.
Originally Posted by OrlandoFlyer
Tim Flynn, an FBI spokesman, said the 29-year-old Charlotte man was detained overnight for questioning, but was not charged with any crime.
Flynn said the investigation is under investigation.
Nov 2, 2004, 7:02 pm
#7
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Let's conveniently leave out a line in the article.
The screeners ran 11 Explosive Trace Detection swipes with positive results. FBI and Cherry Point EOD was notified. From then on the matter is under the control of the LEOs. Procedure is to have the Bomb Squad X-Ray the item using their equipment and they make the determination on how to proceed. There had to be a reason why they felt they needed to use a disrupter on the item.
After screeners noted the 11 positive hits, the FBI and Cherry Point's Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit were notified.
Nov 2, 2004, 7:13 pm
#8
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Disrupter
A DISRUPTER!! There is a difference between disrupting and DESTROYING, obviously a nuance the government is not aware of.
Originally Posted by TSAMGR
Let's conveniently leave out a line in the article.
The screeners ran 11 Explosive Trace Detection swipes with positive results. FBI and Cherry Point EOD was notified. From then on the matter is under the control of the LEOs. Procedure is to have the Bomb Squad X-Ray the item using their equipment and they make the determination on how to proceed. There had to be a reason why they felt they needed to use a disrupter on the item.
The screeners ran 11 Explosive Trace Detection swipes with positive results. FBI and Cherry Point EOD was notified. From then on the matter is under the control of the LEOs. Procedure is to have the Bomb Squad X-Ray the item using their equipment and they make the determination on how to proceed. There had to be a reason why they felt they needed to use a disrupter on the item.
Nov 2, 2004, 7:17 pm
#9
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Innocent man detained overnight and not charged?
[/QUOTE]
Oh, come now, surely you are familiar with the Patriot Act. Or perhaps you are not aware that even today well over 1,000 men of middle eastern extraction have disappeared in your country never to be heard of again by their families following a knock at the door at 4am. Where are they? You guessed it mate, detained but not charged. Perhaps you are also not aware that the FBI has burst in on hundreds of homes and detained the men, women and children in maximum security prisons in isolation from one another (this even happened to a five year old girl) while their homes were being searched. I could go on but most people won't care until the next terrorist attack is committed by a "Jones" or a "Carlucci" or a "O'Neil" or a "MacDonald", then watch people get all pissed off about how they are being targetted because of their heritage and how unfair the Patriot Act is.
[/QUOTE]
Oh, come now, surely you are familiar with the Patriot Act. Or perhaps you are not aware that even today well over 1,000 men of middle eastern extraction have disappeared in your country never to be heard of again by their families following a knock at the door at 4am. Where are they? You guessed it mate, detained but not charged. Perhaps you are also not aware that the FBI has burst in on hundreds of homes and detained the men, women and children in maximum security prisons in isolation from one another (this even happened to a five year old girl) while their homes were being searched. I could go on but most people won't care until the next terrorist attack is committed by a "Jones" or a "Carlucci" or a "O'Neil" or a "MacDonald", then watch people get all pissed off about how they are being targetted because of their heritage and how unfair the Patriot Act is.
Nov 2, 2004, 7:59 pm
#10
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Originally Posted by prof1950
A DISRUPTER!! There is a difference between disrupting and DESTROYING, obviously a nuance the government is not aware of.
http://www.roboprobe.com/DOWNLOADS/D...LDISRUPTER.PDF
http://www.hdemfg.com/product4.htm
Nov 2, 2004, 8:40 pm
#11
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Originally Posted by TSAMGR
Nov 2, 2004, 9:33 pm
#12
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Ahh crap. What a bunch of idiots. I wonder if procedure would have let the man walk out to an isolated area and remove his hard drive before those @$$ clowns blew it up.
Any chance those jokers new anything about computers? Perhaps their machines have no valuable data on them, but some people's do.
Any chance those jokers new anything about computers? Perhaps their machines have no valuable data on them, but some people's do.
Nov 3, 2004, 8:28 am
#13
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Originally Posted by TSAMGR
Let's conveniently leave out a line in the article.
The screeners ran 11 Explosive Trace Detection swipes with positive results. FBI and Cherry Point EOD was notified. From then on the matter is under the control of the LEOs. Procedure is to have the Bomb Squad X-Ray the item using their equipment and they make the determination on how to proceed. There had to be a reason why they felt they needed to use a disrupter on the item.
The screeners ran 11 Explosive Trace Detection swipes with positive results. FBI and Cherry Point EOD was notified. From then on the matter is under the control of the LEOs. Procedure is to have the Bomb Squad X-Ray the item using their equipment and they make the determination on how to proceed. There had to be a reason why they felt they needed to use a disrupter on the item.
Nov 3, 2004, 9:24 am
#14
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Great
Originally Posted by USCGamecock
I am feeling safer by the minute. How do we know the swabs were not contaminated by another source or placed there by those who need to have x amount of positives to justify their existence?
Nov 3, 2004, 10:49 am
#15
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Scantlin referred questions the Transportation Safety Administration, which in turn referred questions to Scantlin.
Scantlin said it was possible that the man had been handling some sort of ammunition and the smell remained on the man and his laptop.
"We have had to detain hunters traveling out west this time of year who might have an ammunition smell on them," Scantlin said.
"We urge all people who might have handled explosive devices before boarding to wash their hands and be sure their clothes and shoes are clear of any explosive matter," Scantlin said.
"We have had to detain hunters traveling out west this time of year who might have an ammunition smell on them," Scantlin said.
"We urge all people who might have handled explosive devices before boarding to wash their hands and be sure their clothes and shoes are clear of any explosive matter," Scantlin said.