Airport Security Breaks Laptop, Threatens to Arrest Owner

Sat Oct 27, 2007 3:47PM EDT

See Comments (49)

Despite some promises to the contrary, the TSA seems to be continuing its old power-mad tricks. The latest story out of those airport security lines is a real a doozy.

Jake (Rhymes with Cake) writes that a recent trip through Pittsburgh International Airport ended with a TSA guard picking up the tray in which his laptop was riding and, whoops, dropping it on the ground. The damage was obvious, as pieces broke off of it (you can see pictures on his blog), and the upset traveler asked how he could resolve the situation, namely how to file a damage claim. TSA's response: Get out of the security area now or we'll arrest you.

What should he have done? Stay and fight for his rights or move along quietly? The TSA has an amazing amount of power: Even though you've done nothing wrong, it can detain you for as long is it likes. And TSA knows that if it detains you, you'll almost certainly miss your flight. And it knows that you know that. And thus, you'll move along like a good little citizen.

Well, in this case, Jake probably did do the right thing, as on-the-ground guards aren't the best people to take this fight to. In the thick of it, tempers flare, and rational thought rarely rules. The solution: Consumerist notes that TSA has a claims office, reachable at (866) 289-9673 and tsaclaimsoffice@dhs.gov, which is designed to handle just such cases. Forms are available here. This office can also deal with claims of harassment by TSA agents; threatening travelers with arrest for asking about damage to their belongings simply shouldn't be allowed.

Comments on Airport Security Breaks Laptop, Threatens to Arrest Owner

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  • 26 Posted by renant222 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:36PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'm willing to believe that some TSA personnel are on a power trip, but I think a lot of situations are caused by travelers who are somewhat arrogant and don't want to follow the rules. In any case, things can never be perfect and accidents will happen. It's not necessarily the fault of the TSA agent. So lighten up and learn to enjoy the freedom and rights you have as an American. If you really want to see people in authority who are on power trips and have no respect for anybody else, come and spend a few days in Haiti.

  • 28 Posted by final_station on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    How unfair, I hope Jake fights back with information. For starters get the names of those who are responsible. Some people can be real jerks :(.

  • 29 Posted by excolocho on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    in the USA, is common to have security guards know that uniforms like they love to use, are oftenly confused with the police, and area instructed to clarify this confusion, if they are honest, tehy should explain "no sir-maddam, I am a security guard", and guess what? many enjoy this confusion. especially the part that "threatens with arrest", which delights them. as you have pointed, is a good idea to have your own picture, and avoid a confrontation with someone who refuses to be honest and amenable. since this is an item covered with insurance, (theirs), act appropiatelly.

  • 30 Posted by bluesnmore on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:09PM EDT Report Abuse

    Comments from #'s 1,2,3,and 4 sound just like members of the nation of sheep our security system wants them to be. If you place an unbroken unit in the tray and you witness it being dropped and broken, it should be replaced, no questions asked. The comments that it was probably broken before being placed in the tray says more about the commentor than it does about the customer who was returned a bashed up laptop. Wake up you ignorant people. How stupid do you have to be tothink that someone took a broken laptop to the airport, hoping it would be mishandled so they could get a new one at someone elses expence. Ridiculous!!!

  • 31 Posted by qe2bb on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    And "The Meek Shall Inherit The Gulag."

  • 33 Posted by cheyennebean2003 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    Every social event, every company, any place there is more than one person, there is going to be just as many viewpoints and opinions. My daughter and son-in-law both work for TSA in DFW and tell me stories of what kind of JERKS some of the public can be. Yes there are probably some TSA personnel that are on power trips; but don't judge the majority for the actions of a few. Over all I feel alot safer about flying than I would without their services. Great job TSA overall. By the way for the ignorant person that stated that they are "low paid flunkies";WRONG!!! They get paid very well and have excellant benefits.

  • 34 Posted by djchrysys on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:44PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am a security guard and no on except police have the right to arrest, the tsa may have some special guidelines but like any other agency they need to have a valid reason to arrest or detain, if they dont then they are looking at a law suit. this case may or may not be ligit but I would have to say there is a lot of cases where what this implies have happened or even just flat out negligence which is just as bad, and yes those that handle luggage at airports are not concerned with being gentle, they have a very short amount of time and confined space to fit it so it is hustle and cram it in.

  • 35 Posted by riverwest2 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    I don't even take a camera or a big book through the airport any more if I can help it. Last time I took a big book I was almost finished reading, my carry-on tote bag got inspected and tipped over on the belt and spilled out, and I got wanded all over, and they plowed through my checked luggage and sent it through to its destination with the zipper open. Amazingly, everything was still in the checked luggage when I got it back. But then there wasn't much except cheap clothes, a few toiletries & that stupid book. btw I wasn't the only one singled out - there was some old lady in a wheelchair, too...

  • 36 Posted by oldpower44 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:44PM EDT Report Abuse

    LAST YEAR i WAS FLYING TO ORLANDO FROM ATLANTIC CITY ON MY WAY HOME TO COLORADO SPRINGS.wHEN WE LANDED i HURRIED OVER TO THE DEPARTURE GATE FOR AN AA FLIGHT, THE PLANE WAS BEING PUSHED OUT.tHE AIRLINE I HAD COME INTO ORLANDO WITH HAD BEEN LATE DEPARTING ATLANTIC CITY, AA GATE GUY TELLS ME THAT THE AIRLINES i FLEW IN WITH DOES'T HAVE A LUGGAGE AGREEMENT WITH AA AND I HAD TO GO BACK AND GET THEM. hE ALSO PUTS ME ON ANOTHER FLIGHT BUT TELLS ME i DON'T HAVE TIME TO CHECK THE BAG IN, GO DIRECTLY THROUGH THE TSA CHECK POINT WITH MY LUGGAGE. SO I SPEAK WITH A SUPERVISORY TSA PERSON AND TELL HIM WHAT THE AA GATE PERSON HAD TOLD ME TO DO. ALSO THE GATE PERSON SAID THE BAG WOULD BE PUT INTO THE NORMAL STORAGE IN THE BELLY OF THE PLANE. ANYHOW, I EXPLAINED THIS ALL TO THE TSA AND THEY FINALLY GIVE ME PERMISSION TO CHECK MY SUIT CASE THROUGH. WELL, IT'S MY TURN, THE TSA GUARD STARTED GOING THROUGH THE SUITCASE AND EXCLAIMING LITTLE PHRASES LIKE OH! LOOK WHAT WE HAVE HERE. WELL FOLKS, AS YOU KNOW YOU PUT EVERYTHING YOU CAN'T CARRY ON IN YOUR SUITCASE. hE CONTINUED TAKING HIS SWEET TIME EVEN AFTER I INFORMED HIM THAT I WAS GOING TO MISS MY FLIGHT. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD CALL AHEAD AND ACTUALLY HOLD THE PLANE. I WAS FINALLY RELEASED MINUS QUITE A LOT OF ARTICLES NOT ALLOWED IN CARRY-ON. OH WELL, I GET TO THE GATE AND THE PLANE IS BEING PUSHED OUT, MISSED ANOTHER ONE. IHURRY BACK TO TSA [ 5 MINUTES HAD PASSED SINCE I HAD LEFT THEM ]I ASKED FOR ALL MY STUFF BACK SO I COULD PUT IT BACK AND GO CHECK IT IN AT THE AA COUNTER. I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS GETTING NOTHING BACK. ONCE CONFISCATED IT CAN NOT BE GIVEN BACK. I WAS SO MAD I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO POP A VAIN.LONG STORY I KNOW. JUST WANTED TO VENT AND SHOW WHAT TSA IS CAPEABLE OF. THEY ARE CERTAINLY A BUNCH OF POWER CRAZED KNUCKLE DRAGGERS.

  • 37 Posted by hlsii@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    Hello, fellow Americans, I am reading in your comments that most of you are more than ready to , allow your rights to courtesy to be taken away. Did you know that courtesy is required job description. Plus we distrust each other so much the we rushed the defence of athority before thinking this could happen to me. Why don't we just give up our freedoms. If their was vote on the Bill of Rights, you patriots I fill would give them uo to the TSA. Why not The Excutive Branch of government stealing them anyway. Go TSA, kick next time break an arm and tell your supports to move on, your blocking the line.

  • 38 Posted by whjaxs on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    Anyone who flies frequently knows airline security is not what the gov wants you to think it is. The Sky Marshals are easy to pick out if you know what to look for and the TSA personnel are not exactly the 1st team. When tests are done and simulated weapons or explosives are sent through security check points they are only cought 50% of the time. I fly often and carry an edged weapon on my person just in case. I am sure a dedicated bad guy could smuggle something bad onto an aircraft anywhere in the world. The only thing keeping terrorists from repeating 9-11 is the knowelage that Americans wont die easy.

  • 39 Posted by mfellion on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:17PM EDT Report Abuse

    All police officiers are on power trips that is why they became officiers or in this case TSA agents. The key is to learn how to handle them. Just take a look at the stupid things people do on the reality police programs when they see an officer. Politness never hurts when talking to a guy or gal with a gun just say yes sir no sir and all will be well eventually if the person is not trying to pull a scam or do something illegal. Of course, it will also help if eventually you need a day in court since it will make the officier look bad if you were polite.

  • 40 Posted by fpc95 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:02PM EDT Report Abuse

    I was traveling to Hawaii and TSA went through my bags and read all my paperwork and went through all my pictures and then left a letter in my bag saying that I shouldn't be traveling to hawaii over xmas and that I better call my family the second I land. They were obnoxious about it. If they have that much time on their hands I think there is a problem with the system. I contacted TSA and they appologied for the incident.

  • 41 Posted by bpollenn on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    The TSA has hired foreigners and criminals and those without even a GED. Or, to put it another way, they left their McJobs to work for the government and protect us from inept terrorists. But as the government themselves have proven, it still is perfectly possible to walk automatic weapons and bombs and bomb components through TSA checkpoints. (Though the "agent provocateurs" used dummy bombs and dummy bomb components... Not EVERYBODY who works for the government is a fool.) While most of the employees of the TSA are courteous and helpful, like the police, it only takes one bad apple, with more testosterone than common sense or tact or respect for the rules or laws that they are employed to enforce, to ruin the reputation of those GOOD employees.

  • 44 Posted by oh_2fast4u on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    I could certainly bow for this guy, we have traveled a few times overseas with a baby stroller. I honestly don't know what happened but when I received my stroller at the next airport stop my brand new stroller's wheels were broken to the point were we would have to replace it. I went ahead and asked about reimbursment and they provided me with forms to fill out. At this time is was already in Japan..thats were we were staioned at, at the time. When I called TSA about my claim the first time they said I would have to purchase a new stroller and send them the receipt to show proof then they will reimburst, the second time I called they said It should of been handled at the airport the incident happened. In the end i ended up with a brand new stroller that had been broken and couldnt be used and having to purchase a new one that i was told I would get reimburst for and didn't. As far as I know I'm not very found of TSA!! I wish we has real cops do security.

  • 45 Posted by fromandrewvanbeek on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:03PM EDT Report Abuse

    I agree, there are two sides to every story but experience tells me that major companies/corperations/admisitrations would only have time to hear their side.

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