MacBook Air stumps TSA agents, owner misses flight

Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:01AM EDT

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The suspiciously thin, port-free laptop sends airport security into a tizzy, until cooler heads prevail. Maybe it's time for some tech briefings at the TSA, no?

On his blog, programmer Michael Nygard (by way of the Unofficial Apple Weblog) writes that during a recent trip through the airport, his solid-state MacBook Air stopped TSA agents—puzzled by its lack of rear-facing ports or a standard hard drive—in their tracks.

Nygard said the agents put him and his suspicious "device" in a holding cubicle as security staffers huddled nearby, looking at X-ray printouts of the sinister-looking Air and scratching their heads.

A younger TSA agent—who, apparently, was aware of Apple's newest laptop—tried explaining to the group that the Air uses solid-state memory in place of a traditional hard drive. The senior staffer, however, was still reluctant to let it go: "New products on the market? They haven't been TSA approved. Probably shouldn't be permitted," Nygard writes.

Finally, after booting up the Air and running a program, the agents let Nygard go, he said—but only after he'd missed his flight.

I've been hearing stories like these all too often, which leads to the question: how exactly are TSA agents being trained, anyway? How about, I dunno, some regular briefings on the latest gadgets that might be making their way through security checkpoints? And while TSA agents are wasting time fussing with laptops, undercover investigators with bomb parts in their bags have been sailing though security checkpoints.

Anyone else out there get stopped by airport security because of a "suspicious" gadget in their luggage? Feel free to vent right here.

Related:
How a MacBook Air baffled airport security [TUAW]

Comments on MacBook Air stumps TSA agents, owner misses flight

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  • 27 Posted by elia_savali on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    Had to part with a very expensive item because of inconsistencies in enforcement and interpretation of policies and procedures at different airports for TSA screeners. Some of these people need better training in "common sense" and "public relations." In many airports, two or three people doing the same thing. Yet they can't seem to make decisions. A necessary "nuisance." esp

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

    they tell you to arrive early at the airport for a reason I have been detained but never missed a flight, but I don't wait till the last moment to leave

  • 29 Posted by vmar20 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    I was in Tampa International Airport. After the TSA agent pick and look my V3xx cellphone, he just threw it back in the little plastic container they provide. It hurts, because they seem not to care people's property. Good thing it still works.

  • 30 Posted by jamie8494 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have had some bad run-ins with the TSA, a Nintendo DS, not relesed in the usa, only in JAPAN, made them think I was a tarrorist, who had instroctons in the DS i mean

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

    TSA Agents don't know a resistor from a hard drive. When it comes to electronics, they screw up cell phone settings not knowing how to turn it on. They may look like they know what they are doing, but if they break your device, the TSA must remburse you for damages to avoid a lawsuit. I have traveled at least 3 times a year or more and I shake my head when I see a TSA employee do their job. I know that it is hard to move a large crowd through the x-ray stations, but just maybe our government could a better training program for their agents. After all, security is very important but missed flights should mean firings for unskilled agents.

  • 33 Posted by southco2001 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    If you're going to insult someone else, please do so with correct grammar and punctuation.

  • 34 Posted by coolbeans28 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    if you want to hear a fun story imagine my experence. I'm engaged to my fiancee who is from thailand and studied and graduated at same US University as myself. I was comming back home from visiting her and her family at the engagement party we had. I just got off my 14 plus hour flight at San fransico International and was at the TSA immagration booth. Security guard behind the counter who asked me for my flight ticket and passport I was like ok here ya go. I was extremely tired at the time as I had just been entertained by a 40 something lady who liked to complain about everything under the sun for the whole flight from japan to SFI...so little to say I got no sleep or very little sleep at all and was ready to take the next flight from SFI to portland. The security guard asked me if I had visited thailand...I said honestly and straitforward that yes I did. He asked what was the purpose of my visit. I said I was visiting my fiancee and her family. At this point I leaned on the counter as I was not mr.energy and tired. The security guard asked me to stand up strait and look into the camera and not move. Though a little irritated at this order..I did it as I know its just part of secruity that they do the video camera thing. Then he proceded to ask me how I met her and I said honestly we met in college. He asked me how long I knew her and I had to think for a minute as I was not ready for the 20 questions game. gave him the answer which was at least 3 years to the best of my knowledge. he gave me a funny look and then asked me where she worked. I said she worked for a swedish firm in thailand. he asked what position...at this point I said to him..what does this have to do with security. he just looked at me angery and said answer the question sir or i will have to detain you. I answered back that she was an executive secretary. He then asked me what the name of the company was. In all honesty I couldn't remember and I certainly didn't think this has anything to do with my being a legal us citizen and should be allowed access to my country after having left it and come back. I told him I really couldn't remember off the top of my head and even if I did know what it was I don't know how to say it right let alone spell it so he might as well move on to the next question and get this over with. At this point he then asked someone else over who then had his hand on his side arm..and said to answere the question. wtf...is this naziland?? so I told him I don't know..finally after he sees im annoyed enough he said..alright..and moves on to question where i was born..am I native us citizen...ect. I sware if they didn't have a gun I would have decked that guy. This is not security its gastapo tactics. I think someone needs to write to congress and tell them about this..I know I wrote more then one letter to my state rep and sentator..that attitude and whole scene is not nessary I was born here..I ----- in white for god sakes..im not in anyway arabic

  • 35 Posted by tombodenker on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:15PM EDT Report Abuse

    Fascina13: I have Denver International horror stories as well. There is a TSA agent (I think they call him Chet) who is a former Marine that loves to act pretty tough. I have friends who also work TSA there who are pretty decent, and they pretty much all hate him. The way you described your daughter's treatment sounds nearly identical to the way he treated me...and others. Your description sounds just like my suspicions: I felt like he was trying to make me miss my flight. I wonder how many others have fallen victim to this loser's Napoleon complex...

  • 36 Posted by jdmc666 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    first off, thanks, brandongnemi, for confirming the consensus regarding the intelligence level of the average TSA agent. I travel often, and the inconsistency of the application of TSA guidelines is alarming; shoes off in this airport, but not that on, nail files are ok in some airports, not in others, etc. Now, I want to be safe when I fly, but the big question I have is "Does TSA actually do anything?" - To date, has the TSA thwarted any hijacking attempts? Unanswerable, perhaps, because if the hijackers had to give up their weapons/tools/hair gel at the checkpoint, then no hijacking, right? But has there been any case where, say 5 men on the same flight all tried to sneak knives onboard, but the TSA found them and rescued us from certain disaster? Personally, I'm going with the TSA = welfare program for incompetents.

  • 38 Posted by funkinmyveins on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:04PM EDT Report Abuse

    Once again the people have been miffed, i love how these advertisements get passed off as "news" like most of the comments here explain, it doesn't take much to stump the heavy headed tsa.

  • 39 Posted by apollo_06_79 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    they stopped me because of my Wii... apparently the old man working for TSA had never seen one and was highly suspicious. lol, oh well!

  • 40 Posted by dbzgtfan4ever on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:39PM EDT Report Abuse

    My contact solution in my bag was okay, but I had a can of Axe body spray - i guess axe could be used as a weapon... anyways they stopped me and checked my bag. it took like 10 ----- minutes and tehy find the axe. There were probably about 3 sprays left in the thing, but the outside label said 3.5 fl oz. i was arguing with the stupid lady because there was obviously less then 3 fl oz in the can. they detained my axe. she said, we go by what the container says, not by what is actually inside. how stupid is that?

  • 41 Posted by divingshark4 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:44PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think TSA needs a MAJOR lesson on the latest technology LOL

  • 42 Posted by orbushcutter on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    @ d.tfish95 Clearly you have no basis on reality. Another 9/11 will not take place even if the TSA were to pack up and leave. Simply put, victims of a hijacking would realize that they were destined to be flown into a US building and would rise up in the same way as those on the Pennsylvania field did. Al Qaeda has realized this but our own government has not.

  • 43 Posted by redsox550 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    i also once got stopped for my external HD and my ARCHOS portable video player. luckily they weren't confiscated and the TSA agent felt kind of stupid

  • 44 Posted by domicyclone15 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    on our way to a tournament a friend put his 2 BIG pocket knives in my checked bagged since he only had carry-ons. on the way back we realized after getting through security that he had forgotten to put his knives in my checked bag. He managed to get on through security(at San Jose airport) with 2 big knives in his carry on luggage.

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