TSA searches toddler in a wheelchair

[AdMan]

A toddler in a wheelchair is stopped by the TSA at the Airport in Chicago and forced to into a sequestered area. On his way to a family vacation in Disney, this 3 year old boy is in a body cast for a broken leg. Despite assurances from his father that "everything is ok", he is physically trembling with fear while he watches his two siblings, mother, father, grandfather and grandmother pass through along with everyone else...only to be singled out.

He simply does not understand what is happening and why.

 

[Giz]

Are you suggesting that the TSA not search items/wheelchairs once they get an assurance from the traveler that "everything is OK"?

As long as they were courteous and professional then they just did their job. If a child is going to be scared by airport security then the parents need to do a better job of preparing/reassuring their kid (or not taking their kid).

 

[Safe-Keeper]

Agree with Giz. If certain people are going to be excempted from searches, guess where the terrorists and smugglers would start hiding their stuff?

Exactly. All of a sudden, all a suicide bomber needs to effortlessly blow up a plane is a toddler in a wheelchair.

 

[Darat]

Father could do with some lessons in how to reassure their kid, like for example not be so interested in videoing what looked like a very reasonable and well conducted security check on the kid and chair!

 

[joobz]

In the video, the TSA security agent was doing a random screen while a kid's father videos it. Whats' the news? I thought the TSA agent was very polite.

I've seen kids more scared on Santa's lap than I saw in that video.


ETA: Exactly what Darat Said.

 

[Rasmus]

Yes, it is okay.

If we accept that searches are warranted to begin with, we have to check everybody and perform detailed random checks without exception.

If this wasn't being done, then every obviously-innocent passenger would be the near perfect method of smuggling stuff on board of airplanes. Terrorists could either mimic one of tese obviously innocent traveler or simply make use of a genuine specimen.

I don't see the child trembling in fear - but that might just be me. In that case, I am sure there would be options better than "you may not be with your child during the procedure"

 

[AdMan]

Are you suggesting that the TSA not search items/wheelchairs once they get an assurance from the traveler that "everything is OK"?

I was suggesting (well, I didn't suggest it, but it's what I was thinking) that this is another example of unnecessary and overdone security theater.

However, after my OP I have heard (don't know if this is true) that cast material can smell close to some kind of explosives to chemical sniffers, so there may have been a reason to the thoroughness of the swabbing. Still mostly security theater, though.

 

[Joe Random]

<obligatory>

If I see a kid in a wheelchair on a plane ...

</obligatory>

 

[Kahalachan]

The TSA is worthless to begin with.

There's no evidence they prevent terrorist attacks. And we all certainly know they haven't caught one yet.

 

[Bram Kaandorp]

I was suggesting (well, I didn't suggest it, but it's what I was thinking) that this is another example of unnecessary and overdone security theater.

However, after my OP I have heard (don't know if this is true) that cast material can smell close to some kind of explosives to chemical sniffers, so there may have been a reason to the thoroughness of the swabbing. Still mostly security theater, though.

The only thing making it "theater" was the fact that it was filmed, thus opening it to an audience.

I really don't see why this is so outrageous. Maybe because the kid is in a wheelchair? That hardly makes him more vulnerable, seeing as his parents were there.

 

[Noztradamus]

Are you suggesting that the TSA not search items/wheelchairs once they get an assurance from the traveler that "everything is OK"?

As long as they were courteous and professional then they just did their job. If a child is going to be scared by airport security then the parents need to do a better job of preparing/reassuring their kid (or not taking their kid).

Actually random searches of passengers to find suicide bombers is security theatre. It works only as long as none are found. Any suicide bomber willing to blow herself up on the plane is probably willing to do the same in the terminal.
The plane may be saved, but the terrorist, TSA officers, and innocent people are going to die.

 

[AdMan]

The only thing making it "theater" was the fact that it was filmed, thus opening it to an audience.

Not really: Security theater.

ETA: Or are you arguing that what the TSA does is actually not mostly "security theater"?

 

[Bram Kaandorp]

Not really: Security theater.

ETA: Or are you arguing that what the TSA does is actually not mostly "security theater"?

I'm arguing that this specific case is not security theater.

The idea behind random searches might well be.

 

[Andy_Ross]

The TSA is worthless to begin with.

There's no evidence they prevent terrorist attacks. And we all certainly know they haven't caught one yet.

So what level of security would you have at a boarding gate?

 

[Tsukasa Buddha]

Patting him down, I was a little . When they swabbed his hand for explosive materials was when I went .

I'm all for sticking to rules, but sometimes the rules are pretty loony. This just seems like such a waste of resources. The kid hopefully wasn't too bothered, and the people acted professionally. But the fact that something so silly is routine is a bit bothering in and of itself.

 

[kerikiwi]

The child doesn't understand what is happening and why. So what? He probably doesn't understand what is happening and why when they cross the airbridge and board the plane. He doesn't understand what is happening and why when the plane starts off down the runway.
Interesting that the father had to 'pretend' this was ok so the child didn't panic. Everything actually was ok There was no more reason for the child to panic than at any other stage of the process of getting from home to the destination.
It's no big deal? True, so stop acting as if it were.
As for trembling with fear: what utter melodramatic nonsense.
Apparently there are a lot of children in wheelchairs being used to bring down planes.
There was once a time when we could have said in a similar sarcastic fashion that apparently there are a lot of people hijacking planes and flying them into buildings.

The whole thing is a silly piece of theatre on the part of the father.

 

[crimresearch]

Not really: Security theater.

ETA: Or are you arguing that what the TSA does is actually not mostly "security theater"?

There's security theater, and then there's audience participation.

 

[carlitos]

Father could do with some lessons in how to reassure their kid, like for example not be so interested in videoing what looked like a very reasonable and well conducted security check on the kid and chair!

+1

Coincidentally, TSA has been testing and reducing their security screening over the past year or so. Ages <12 and >75 can keep their shoes on, and some frequent fliers can keep liquids and laptops in bags, etc. I think a lot of paranoia is on display when you film your kid being screened. Super weird.

 

[Tsukasa Buddha]

+1

Coincidentally, TSA has been testing and reducing their security screening over the past year or so. Ages <12 and >75 can keep their shoes on, and some frequent fliers can keep liquids and laptops in bags, etc. I think a lot of paranoia is on display when you film your kid being screened. Super weird.

I think we all agree there is paranoia on display in this video...

 

[Soapy Sam]

I was behind an orthodox Jewish family at Heathrow security a while ago. They had a baby stroller that seemed built to military specs from 1502 hammer union pipe. A Maclaren Humvee, I think. This wouldn't go through the xray machine without being dismantled, which caused some consternation. (How they had got on a plane at their point of departure I can't imagine- especially if it was El Al.)
Now as we are all aware, Orthodox Jewish terrorist bombers are not the commonest varmints in known space, but either the (predominantly Pakistani)* security didn't know that, or they were having a bit of fun. It's a boring job and I suspect a deal of piss taking does go on.
Of course it would be a pretty good disguise for Islamic terrorists, but so would disguising themselves as the Tartan Army and shoving bags of Semtex in their sporrans. Who would want to look?

* Ethnically Asian - could be Indian of course. Unlikely to be Jewish at any rate.