MacBook Air stumps TSA agents, owner misses flight

Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:01AM EDT

See Comments (605)

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

Post a Comment

Join in the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.

  • 586 Posted by caffrerr on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:16PM EDT Report Abuse

    I got stopped by an intrigued (older guy) agent holding my IOMEGA external storage drive. he was turning it over and over (obviously an Aggie, as it is Texas burnt orange and he wanted to feel the power). I said, "Looks like a flask, huh?" and he 'fessed up that it was going thru his mind. A girl agent, said, it's a hard drive (as I smiled condescendingly).

  • 587 Posted by qtmaltese_2008 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:24PM EDT Report Abuse

    LMAO - stooopid! TSA should pay for the guy's flight. one would think that those responsible (in part) for cutting off hi tech and other crimes at the pass would know what the heck an AIR is.

  • 588 Posted by jim1503rd on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:35PM EDT Report Abuse

    What is wierdd is, if he were in a wheelchair(as I am when I trave), they would have said nothing most likely. If it is next to me, up against the side ofthe chair, as that is where I put my laptop,TSA would probably let me get through with a car!

  • 589 Posted by ne.baker on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    Unfortunately there is not much of an intelligence requirement for most security guards. Like the police who freaked out in Boston when they saw the Aqua Teen Hunger Force flashing LED signs, there are a bunch of real dunderheads out there. And the scary part is THEY CARRY GUNS. www.mycctvcamera.com

  • 590 Posted by kos5830 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    Lets face it everone wants to have a safe flight, but these TSA agnets that have been hired by Homeland Security border on being total retards. They either are not allowed to use common sense or they just employ all the stupid people on the planet. From not being allowed to take on a bottle of water that was purchased in the terminal before you went through security,but they have made millions selling it after you go through security or not allowing lip gloss because you didn't put it into a little plastic bag. Jesus, are we a society of morons, and they all are employed by Homeland Security. The whole system needs a overhaul starting with the head moron in charge sitting in the White House. See if he would like having to go through one of these screenings, and why the shoe thing, when you are wearing sandals, or the laptop has to be out where they can see it, what the ---- are the xray machines for? the gal with the nipple rings give me a break, she should sur the heck out of them. When you travel outside of the US you do not have to take out hte laptop, or the shoes, or the belts unless you are a rodea star witha buckle the sign of a small car. Total bull-----

  • 592 Posted by jakeh816 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    i feel sorry for the guy... but not for myself! never once gotten stopped! Even with all my diabetes needles I never once needed to show a note or anything heh heh

  • 593 Posted by dreanland_2000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:48PM EDT Report Abuse

    I will not comment on the IQ's of a number of TS agents I have encountered but perhaps this will give you an idea. For many years I flew throughout the country, flying several times a week. Going through the TSA inspection one day there was a little lady the second person in front of me. I found out later this was her first light and that she was 82 years old. She was going to her son%

  • 594 Posted by allaye2 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    Returning from a hunting trip to texas with my 38 year old son we were stopped as an xray showed a spent rifle cartridge in his computer bag. TSA searched the bag, removed the sheck (no bullet or powder) that he had used to take a trophy with but stopped him when a further search of his bag turned up a leatherman tool with a 4" knife . The xray missed the tool. It's about time for profiling.

  • 595 Posted by thomastuccillo@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    TSA agents are pretty pretty stupid. They will pull aside a 10 year old and wand him for 2 minutes and let me go through {50 year old middle eastern looking} . Come on Profile Profile Profile.......

  • 596 Posted by ions4me on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:24PM EDT Report Abuse

    TSA agents trained?!? HAH! There may be some reasonably intelligent and sufficiently trained people in the TSA, but they're in the minority. Most TSA drones I've had the misfortune of seeing were better off behind the counter of their local fast-food joint. I've stopped flying (whenever I have a choice) as a result of the TSA's theatrics and capricious enforcement of mindless regulations. Does anyone feel safer knowing that grandmothers are being given extra screenings, toothpaste tubes aren't too big and nipple rings are apparently taboo as well? Not this traveler. This story doesn't surprise me at all. The TSA will eventually be the death of commercial air travel in the US.

  • 597 Posted by cage1968 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:16PM EDT Report Abuse

    Let me say a couple things, first, do you think no matter who is security you will be stopped for one reason or another whatever that may be? come on use common sense people, if you travel do you think you will never be stopped for some kind of search you think is stupid, of course you will be checked, and hey be glad and just get through it, arrive early and anticipate a search and don't complain or go fly Al'Qaida Airlines.

  • 598 Posted by midnightson77 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    I sent my carry-on bag through the x-ray machine. Airport security detected my son's toothpaste and informed me I could not take it on the plane. They said nothing about the lighter that I had brought on accident. I left the lighter in the security tray... I did not want any confusion. Better safe than sorry.

  • 599 Posted by spiro_sperat on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:36PM EDT Report Abuse

    Had the World Trade Center buildings been properly engineered they would never have imploded. Furthermore, given the engineering of the structure and the lack of proper fireproofing (which was known) people should have been told to evacuate rather than stay put. There was no solid central core for elevators. The building was missing (I believe) a sprinkler system and I believe one staircase which would have been required by city law, but the Port Authority to whom the building belonged did not have to build to code. Certainly, there could have been far fewer deaths that day. I was astonished to learn that there were no jets within firing distance when the first plane went off track. The World Trade Center was a target par excellence as everyone knew. It was an accident waiting to happen, and it did. Even a girl could figure that one day a plane by accident or design would fly into that building by which I had flown on countless occasions!

  • 600 Posted by steve_schlick on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    Twice I accidentally went through a TSA checkpoint with a very sharp 6" foldout knife in my backpack. Neither time did they catch it. Fortunately I discovered the knife before I could test my luck for a third time.

  • 601 Posted by kingbaby on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    TSA needs an education in many areas - and first off is common sence. I was stopped in LAX and harrassed - severely - because my computer wouldn't boot up. Simple reason: dead battery. But the guy refused to believe me. When I tried to explain and asked to show him what to do, he threatened me with an investigation by the FBI (I don't know what business any of this is of theirs) and then had me body searched. Through all of this he boomed aloft in a loud, insulting voice. TSA needs a revamp from top to bottom. And it needs some "re-education" in the area of behavior. Most foreign airports do not require computers to be removed from baggage, nor belts removed, nor shoes taken off. What's wrong in America and what's wrong with the TSA? As an American, I'm glad to live abroad where reason and sanity tend to prevail better than back at home.

  • 602 Posted by richardsmith_57 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    Hasn't anyone figured out that TSA hires low paid, bottom of the barrel types who can't be real cops; because they are intellectually, emotionally, and psychologically unfit for that type of work. Even before 9/11, airport cops were washouts from real police work and the lower 50% of their C.J. classes.

  • 603 Posted by cage1968 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:16PM EDT Report Abuse

    I work for TSA and you may not realize it but TSA has many ex-police officers and ex-military as employees, many others are just like any other job from all walks of life and all nice and decent people, yes many at TSA get frustrated just as passengers do during a day at the airport, TSA is a fun and interesting job, you get to meet alot of different people and see many different things during a single day, before working at TSA I worked at DELL computer corp before the lay-off----- , then I came to TSA and learned alot about things I never knew went on as far as terrorism goes, I do watch tech stuff as I like gadgets myself if I can afford them, as there are more than a single person can keep up with and technology changes all the time nowadays and new things come out all the time, Though it might be intereting to see a VLE come through security, look it up if you think you know tech unlike the "quote unquote" TSA, we are all on the same "side" here so why can't you help the situation instead of complaining about it like spoiled young children, and yes TSA just like any other job in america has people you think may be stupid or without common sense, it is how things are and will be. All of us get upset be it passengers or TSA employees and it happens everywhere, sometimes I get real angry when I see a shopper at the local grocery store get loud and vocal towards the cashier who is just trying to do her job as best she can. Sometimes I get checked as well at the airport while on duty, and I let the person checking me do what he needs to do and I know that he is just doing his job, I just smile and say hi how are you doing today and go on about my business as usual, anyways thanks to ALL of TSA who are trying to do their best and to all the passengers that thank us every day, and even to all the angry passengers that complain, just take a step back if you feel angry or frustrated and just be pleasant and the rest of your day may be much more pleasant, if TSA breaks something, hey, fill out paperwork on it an get a replacement from TSA, we really are not out there to break anything on purpose. =)

  • 604 Posted by johnritchie9 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:39PM EDT Report Abuse

    dont forget the standard screening test for TSa staff is to only interview those who misspell thier own name,(haha),the younger agent above was obviously waiting to here back from the Linix developer he is trying to get a job with

More Posts: First Prev … 29 30 31 Next Last

Post a Comment

Sign In to Post a Comment

My Tech

Please enable your browser's cookies to activate the My Tech column.

Also on Yahoo! Tech

Computers Home Office Wi-Fi & Networking Phones & PDAs Cameras & Camcorders TV & Home Theater Portable Audio
 

Site Map | Tour | Subscribe to Yahoo! Tech

Question and Answer content at Yahoo! Tech is written by Yahoo! users at Yahoo! Answers. Yahoo! does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any Yahoo! Answers content. For more information, read the Full Disclaimer.

Opinions expressed by the Advisors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Yahoo! Inc. Yahoo! receives no compensation from any manufacturer or distributor nor does it compensate any Advisor for the coverage of any product or service in any Advisor's content.