Top Five TSA Fails of 2012 (Already)

We’re only four months into 2012, and we’ve already got a top five list of TSA failures. Feeling safe yet, America? Read on for our best of the worst.

GO TO HELLLLLL: JetBlue flyer Ross Berenson alleged that his checked luggage had been opened by baggage screeners. When he went to pick up his bag at JFK, he claimed that his TSA-certified lock was missing, and that the loops on the bag’s zippers had been cut. He reported the tampering to the TSA, who gave him a complaint form to fill out. However, the form was already partially filled out—with a hand-written message telling him to “GO TO HELLLL.” Berenson says that the form is a photocopy, so other travelers may receive the same note. According to New York news blog Gothamist, the TSA is looking into the incident.

Young Child Declared High Security Threat: A four-year-old girl was traveling through Wichita’s Airport with her family, and had already passed through security, when her grandmother was stopped after setting off an alarm on the scanners. According to the Daily Mail, the girl ran over to give her grandmother a hug, and was then flagged by TSA Agents. The girl’s mother claims that the TSA agents implied that the grandmother had passed a handgun to the daughter, and the girl was described as a “high security threat.” She had to be patted down.

Did the TSA Steal $300 from a 95-Year-Old Man?: A 95-year-old Air Force veteran claims that he had $300 in cash stolen from him during airport screening. Reporting the theft didn’t help, as the surveillance video of the area was apparently useless.

TSA = Thieves Stealing All?: A TSA agent and his wife admitted to running a larceny ring out of Miami International Airport. The agent reportedly stole valuables out of passengers’ luggage and resold them on Craigslist—and he ran this scam for three years before being caught!

TSA Agent is a Real Boob to Nursing Mom: A TSA screener made up their own rules, forcing a nursing mother to pump breast milk into bottles before letting her take the pricey equipment on board her flight. The mom had to pump in a public bathroom and fill the containers, because the agent mistakenly believed that passengers could not bring empty bottles aboard.

Are you outraged or do you think the TSA gets a bad rap? Tell us how you feel in the comments!

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