TSA Deems 2 Year Old Toddler A Security Threat

[madismom]

    On the Morning of 12/4/07 a family of 3 were waiting in the security check point line of Hartford Ct. airport.  When the father handed over the tickets to the security official for his wife and their 2 year old daughter a security supervisor came over and a commotion started with the official and the supervisor.  Are you sure the official asked?  I mean look at them?  Yes the supervisor replied.  They are flagged and we have to follow TSA regulations.  Well if any of you have traveled with a child, you know how much goes along with you on the plane.  They had 3 carry on bags, a laptop, a dvd player, a car seat and a stroller, all prepared for their 6 1/2 hour flight home.   Suddenly there was an announcement over the loud speaker, "Additional Security Screening Required...All Employees to their Stations...3 to be Screened..We need a Female and a Male Security Screener ASAP".  The wife looked at her Husband, did they say 3???  Ummmm She's 2 years old..Hello.  So after she looks around at all of the other flyer's with the baffled looks on their faces, the process begins.  They go through all of their bags taking everything out..toys, diapers, movies, snacks, buttpaste, baby wipes,juice and had to turn on the dvd player, laptop and camera to make sure that they worked.  Then they usher the 3 of them in a large bulletproof glass and steel encasement, they were  to stand on these yellow footprints the entire time of the pat down. Yes they patted down the 2 year old daughter, they checked her diaper and her pony tail after that they ran a wand up and down her to make sure that they didn't miss anything.  They let the Father out of the encasement to start putting their items back into their bags and when they were done Screening the 2 year old they let the Mother pick her up and exit the encasement.  Just as the Mother and Daughter were stepping out of the encasement there was a loud Crack, Ping then Crash.  The enormous Steel Bulletproof Door had come off of it's hinges and fell to the floor...luckily no one was hurt..the security official stated that it has been broken for some time and that maintenance hadn't gotten around to fix it due to that the Encasement seldom gets used. Does anyone see the irony in that??       

                                                                               The Culprit Madison

                                                                               AKA: Madi,

                                                                               AKA: Cutie pie                                                

     This is a true story, it is what happened to us on our way home last week.  Ever since 9/11 I personally get pulled aside for additional security screening EVERY time I fly and I fly quite a bit, I don't know why.  I'm 5"2" at a 108 pounds all I do is laugh about it, I have asked why and every time they say it's just random but ummm yeah...that makes no sense.  This was however the first time that my daughter had to go through this process, she fly"s quite a bit as well.  We barely made our flight, but all you can do is laugh. I mean really...How much of a security risk it a toddler and has this happened to you?

[Shmop]

Dec. 10, 2007 at 6:30 PM I flew with a friend once who had 4 or 5 S's on the bottom of her ticket.  I didn't have them so I asked about it.  She said "Oh yeah.  I have to be screened everytime I fly. I was randomly selected because I was flying a lot right after 9/11." She said she will be like that everytime she flies for about 7 years!!  I don't know if her party will be searched like you were but she has learned to pack light and check often.  God Bless you for keeping a good humor about it.,  There are too many people who would have lost their minds and given security a hard time.

[Kiter]

Dec. 10, 2007 at 6:36 PM

stupid. but i guess they gotta do a random check each time....make an acception for one- gotta make one for all.

but silly and stupid to check a 2 yr old

[mamasblessings]

Dec. 10, 2007 at 6:42 PM

Wow.....unbelievable....I wonder why they always check you. that's so strange.... oh poor Madi.....

what did they think that someone would actually hide something in a 2 year old?? well maybe some would I guess but not you. oh Lord...now that's a story for her scrapbook.. LOL...

 HUGS SWEETIE: glad you're home all ok