I know this may incite a flamewar, but I thought I'd share this.... strange observation for discussion.

The other day at BWI, early morning rush, I present my ID and my boarding pass to the private ID checker and wait in the maze of travelers to go through the metal detectors.

An average looking, middle-aged gentleman two places in front of me alarmed the WTMD. He was shoeless, and the screener said that the metal detector seemed to suggest he had a metal object on his left leg. He shrugged, and removed his wallet from his pocket, lots of loose change, keys, , etc.

He walked through again and once again the machine alarmed. For some reason, the TSA agent let him attempt a third time, this time informing him that once again, the machine had a hit on his left leg region.

He removed his belt and walked through a third time. BEEEP - Metal object, left leg! TSA agent gestured him towards the glassed in "penalty box" for secondary. The man then stated "Oh, that's right! I had surgery on my leg and it has some screws in there. That is probably what set it off, here, I can show you a card I got from my doctor."

At this point he reached for his pocket as if going for some kind of card, but the screener said "No, sir, that is ok, I trust you. You can go through." and gestured him through the WTMD.

It was a bit early, so it wasn't for a few minutes as I sat down at my gate eating a breakfast sandwich that my eyes bugged out and I realized the potential implications of what just happened.

IMHO, it's perfectly reasonable and normal to forget you have multiple screws in your left leg after having set off the WTMD numerous times......

Doesn't matter, the screener obviously didn't follow protocol. He let the individual go through 3 times when 2 is the max. And the way I read the post is that he let the guy through without any secondary which is a security breach right there. The screener had no way of knowing what was causing the alarm other than the individual's word that he had screws in his leg. I would expect better especially from BWI.

Deleted

I won't defend the screener, but I'll defend the OP and other pax for (presumably) not reporting the incident to a supervisor. Doing so almost certainly would have resulted in a needless terminal evacuation and massive delays for everyone even though the probability of an actual threat was extremely low.

I have little faith in the screeners at BWI. Last time I was there I watched the screeners make the man in front of me strip to his undershirt before going through the WTMD because they didn't like the look of his sweater.

Not me, this screener, as well as any of the ones who cannot determine 1" of thickness, should be fired.

As for reporting to the supervisor, you have got to be kidding me. If the supervisor was doing his/her job, they would have seen the incident themselves.

I would just like to say in this instance I think it should of been reported as the screener really didn't have any idea what the individual had on him or in him as the case may be.

I didn't really think about reporting it to a TSA Supervisor. Unfortunately, I was already at my gate and it was an extended period of time later..

If I had reported it, I'm assuming a review of the video tape (please tell me that as a matter of policy the area just outside the WTMD is recorded) and a terminal dump would have ensued?

Just what BWI would need during the early morning rush on a buisness day.

Actually I would support (and expect) the screener to resolve the alarm. If the screener does not resolve an alarm from a WTMD, he/she is not doing his/her job.

I may not care for the TSA as an organization, I certainly don't care for the shoe carnival, especially when I am wearing "security friendly" shoes with thin soles and no metal, and I believe the SSSS is a bunch of hogwash --- but in the end, the WTMD is primary screening and any alarm must be resolved.

On the other hand, if one doesn't alarm, leave the passenger alone to proceed.

Best,

SDF_Traveler (in MEL)

I 100% agree with your thoughts here. This screener did not do his job. plain and simple. There was no attempt to determine the cause of the alarm. But then again there may be no way to do this in this situation.

However, here is the one security hole that I honestly think TSA really needs to look at. (this is based on their continued beleif in the absolute threat presented by every passenger). This guy "claimed" to have screws in his legs, hip. And to prove it he produced a "card" from a "doctor" stating this. OK from a TSA perspective 1) How do we know that he has screws in his leg, absolutely, and not contraband, such as a weapon, or explosive. 2) How do we know that the card presented is from a doctor, and one who can be trusted?

I my wild imagination, which I would presume is as wild as TSA's. Querry What would stop the determined terrorist from having a hip replacement, but filling the hollow part of the replacement with an explosive element and leaving the fuse or other ignition device open such that it looks like a drainage device. Then when the WTMD alarms, presenting such a card. How can TSA determine if this "person" is a threat or not?

just some thoughts to muddy the waters some more.

SDF_Traveler and MSY-MSP,

Too much common sense - watch out! Displaying that around checkpoints will arouse suspicion.

Supervisors can't see everything that happens in a checkpoint. They may be dealing with other things already happening in, such as a ETD alarm or a passenger complaint. The fact is that the supervisor could have been doing their job. Thats why it's on the screeners shoulders to do their job, which is exaclty the hardest thing to do.