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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  • 6 Posted by agustin2489 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    "New products on the market? They haven't been TSA approved. Probably shouldn't be permitted." Orwellian. *in italics*

  • 7 Posted by echo_iguana on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    sure let's let the people that just upgraded from skycap or convenient store clerk decide what should be allowed. Oh yeah the TSA agents that check for bombs shouldn't be making that decision either. but i agree with the possibility of him being late as well.

  • 8 Posted by polyester06 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:16PM EDT Report Abuse

    i tried seeing what i could get away with at an airport terminal by putting as many cords and electronics in one carry-on bag as possible. i had my laptop cables and charger, a cd player with a charger and headphones, my cell phone charger, and i think i had something else in there too. they put it through the scanner twice, but thats it. another time i set off a metal detector and the lady kept yelling at me to take off my shoes before i go through again, but i took off my belt instead and the detector didnt go off. i liked ticking her off cause i figured out her job for her.

  • 9 Posted by seagrave1977 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    Im just trying to make sure that whenever I fly I know of every new rule that the TSA implements. Something like the incident mentioned shouldnt happen if the people who screen your luggage are keeping up with training and are knowledgeable. Also, this is inquiry to anyone who's flown commercial recently. I own a Nikon D40 and want to take it on my travels. Anyone encounter any issues while having this camera with them? What would be the best way to carry that sort of gear with you when decide to fly commercial? Thanks a bunch for the input.

  • 10 Posted by jonathan.eells on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    You just have to go with it. Have some fun. I keep one of the exterior pockets of my carry-on luggage positively stuffed - I'm talking about hundreds - STUFFED absolutely tight full of condoms. The TSA can't check me through fast enough. It's the weirdest thing.

  • 11 Posted by lyrchdawg2000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    SO LET ME TRY TO UNDERSTAND THIS. THIS GUY IS BASICALLY SAYING THOSE PEOPLE ARE STUPID BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT HIS MAC COMPUTER. WHAT A NERD THING TO SAY THAT FREAKIN GEEK! I GUESS IT IS TRUE THAT MAC OWNERS ARE SMUG, STUCK UP AND ARROGANT. YA YOU'RE SO COOL WITH YOUR MAC MICHAEL NYGARD. IT'S JUST THERE TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR MANHOOD! HAHAHA

  • 12 Posted by jmqwerty on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    the tsa people are like most government people--just plain stupid. they can flick through the rule book only, common sense does not have a place in their thinking or reasoning. i never expect much from them, only a hassle.

  • 13 Posted by dantorchia1977 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:36PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think the TSA needs to figure out a set policy. They just can't make up some random rules for something. Oh yeah, that's right! Another government agency besides the IRS that loves to prey on innocent people with complicated rule books and laws. Keep it simple, people! We'll all be happier.

  • 14 Posted by rangler7of9 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    I once came from a camping trip( in bear country) right to the airport and inadvertently left some noise makers in my pack (.44mag noise maker rounds) Even thru the xray machine went undetected by the operatoar and forgotten by me..it was a good thing however that I didn't put the noise makers in my shoe. cause the attendant told me not to worry about the eyeglasses in my pocket and of course when I went thru the metal detector it set it off and I was required to take my shoes off because the attendant told me NOT to take my glasses out of my pocket..amazing

  • 15 Posted by poblete75 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:15PM EDT Report Abuse

    I was in a hurry to catch a flight at Denver international airport and I guess my being in a rush triggered the TSA agents and I was quickly escorted into a separate room and asked to drop my pant and just stand in my underwear thinking I was hiding something . when they could not find anything on me they called the suporvisor and he promptly let me go . I totally understand and support the need to be safe , but please when the agents get so much power to go and do what ever they feel like doing , even when it violates other people , I draw the line on that !! I so would have filed a huge complaint on what they did to me , but I was late for a flghit , but I will never again do another stop over in Denver airport .

  • 16 Posted by indycat67 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:24PM EDT Report Abuse

    It's a sign of times--we're so afraid of our own shadows and MacBook Air's. However, I'd still carry all my tech gear in my carry-on and risk having do-overs in security checks instead of losing them in checked luggage...and I'll tell you why. I've had a series of bad experiences with the TSA and totally do not trust them at all. I basically had my business suit, box of men's fragrances meant for my dad, all my bras (this really freaked me out), and a box of baby clothes stolen from my checked luggage while it was in transit. All this, with a TSA-approved lock fastened to my suitcase, so you know who has access to it. It arrived locked, but with contents missing. Go figure. FYI, luggage are supposed to be in a secure, limited-access area while in transit, so if things go missing, I think it's fair to say who is probably behind it. I'm just thankful I had my things were taken out, instead of having things that don't belong to me put in. Sure, I lost more than $200 worth of clothes and gifts, but at least someone didn't stuff cocaine and pistols into my bag. Oh, and the airline will not readily reinburse you for lost items like this.

  • 17 Posted by thomas_yeo_2020 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    When I was coming through Singapore airport recently, the Mac Mini stumped officials for a while as they did not really believe it was a computer. After Xray, they decided it was OK!

  • 18 Posted by brandongnemi on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    I work for the TSA and am really surprised as to this story as being wholly true or if the author even researched tsa guidelines before he posted his spiel or even interviewed the people checking the laptop? no mention there? I dismiss this as being wholly true not to the fact the man was pulled over but to the fact that after the laptop and his bag would of been tested for explosives he would have been free to go. If this man did not pull his laptop out of his briefcase such as required he may have had other organic items or other items on top of the laptop in his briefcase further arousing suspicion. I do not know the editors source of the story, but there are some significant flaws and details left out in which case I will not dismiss the story but hold it highly with dis-regard lacking whole truth. Very often people try to get by with things you explain the procedure in which case they pretend to not understand. Which also might not be the whole truth for why this passenger was late for his flight. Lines at the tsa have gotten alot shorter and even on the busiest days does take more than an extra ten minutes for additional screening just like the person with the gameboy mentioned what he did not mention is that they probablly left a small item like a gameboy in there pocket while walking through the metal detector people do this all the time for cell phones just take it and are dumb founded when metal alarms! Also it did not matter that the laptop is missing a hard drive dvd players also lack this which further removes the story from the whole truth, people if you are carrying batteries, jewlery bring every quarter you own to vegas in a single bag or what you might think this object superman cannot even see through take it out of your bag it will save you time for you and everyone else around you, and to the comment about sailing through checkpoints with parts of bombs better get the facts straight it is really challenging the author once again did not relay the whole story of what is really happening or the percentages of what types or missed failures or the percentage of computer generated material tested. Also do you really expect every time a new product that is released to have a little class on that item? sometimes i have had passengers show off there laptops without even asking the only time I ask to see them run it is if has been dropped, other note lets see how many gadgets are released every year? how many classes would this equal? you really want to fly right?

  • 19 Posted by thepathwithin on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:04PM EDT Report Abuse

    Sometimes for safety, inconveniences arise... I for one am glad that they stopped someone with a device they've never seen, then let him get on to the plane with a device they've never seen..... Which is the safer practice?

  • 20 Posted by goo_dotted on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:11PM EDT Report Abuse

    I actually enjoy airports granted security checks can be annoying at times. I'm more concerned about the comment d.tfish95 made. Yes, it was planned and known about before it happened...by the terrorists! Hindsight is 20/20 as we now see all the clues leading to the events of that day, but your theory is ridiculous.

  • 21 Posted by jtfochtxp on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    They stop all other peole who have no terrorist intentions, but let all the other goons with malice intent right on the plane. WHY? It's the MAC Book Air, who could a terrorist possible pack a bomb in it? It's way too thin and light.

  • 22 Posted by fascina13 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:58PM EDT Report Abuse

    More on my daughters story. Yes, she was 3 HOURS there before her flight.. You heard me. 3 HOURS. She was at Denver Int'l. And they took her into a side room. We both made offical complaints with TSA. After I got off the phone with the ....lovely... woman with TSA from the 800 number, who was anything but lovely, I did some more calls. I found out through the disabled escort personal at Denver that Denver TSA has had more complaints lately then many of the other states. Next time my daughter flies, she is going to get escorted through. My daughter is partial blind, and she was trying to be independent w/o having to be escorted like many times in the past. Now she says it's just not worth it.

  • 23 Posted by jtfochtxp on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    The TSA is always stumped, so whats the difference?

  • 24 Posted by galysan@snet.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:05PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think that the TSA group for security is gone too far right now because it limits people to do whatever it is used for electronics in the plane! It's really absurd.

  • 25 Posted by andrew_tait12 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    o mi god these people are sooooooooooooooo daft man ):(

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