Travel News

Icarus Award: You Don’t Have Ebola & Other Fake Threats

Locations in this article:  Chicago, IL Los Angeles, CA

Last week, the Icarus Award was stalled at security and this week we’re not going much farther. Trouble remains at the airport and on the airplane. There are three high-profile issues of TSA misconduct, as well as some suspicious airport behavior. Lily J. Kosner rounds up the week in travel failures. And remember to vote for the worst offender in our poll.

A 4-Year-Old Suspect

Last week the screening staff at the Wichita, Kansas airport classified a 4-year-old girl as a high-security threat when she went back to hug her grandmother after passing through the checkpoint. Contact with an unscreened individual resulted in a necessary pat down that was conducted as the mother held her screaming and crying daughter. After the event the terrified child suffered nightmares, her mom shared her story on Facebook and it soon went viral. The TSA responded with a statement on Tuesday stating, “TSA has reviewed the incident and determined that our officers followed proper current screening procedures in conducting a modified pat-down on the child.” At the end of 2011, the TSA issued revised rules stating that children under 12 would be subject to reduced screening, but could still receive pat downs.

Free Byrdie

On Wednesday, Byrdie, a 30-pound Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy ran loose on the runway of LaGuardia Airport, which forced the Port Authority to shut down the tarmac until the puppy could be safely crated. In the time it took to coax Brydie back into her crate, several flights were delayed. Eventually, she was successfully corralled and was back on her Delta flight to Memphis.

Ebola or Bed Bugs?

Yesterday, a suspicious bug bite on a passenger flying back from Africa resulted in a Delta flight being held in quarantine on the tarmac of Midway Airport. Under quarantine, passengers took to their smartphones for a potential diagnosis. Fear of Ebola had them covering their mouths. The paramedics examined the bite in question and sent photos to the Center for Disease Control. Two hours later authorities heard back that the bite was probably caused by bed bugs.

One-Way Ticket to Hell

Earlier in the week, Ross Berenson was returning to New York from Los Angeles when he noticed that his luggage was tampered with. In filing a claim with the TSA, his form appeared to have an added line suggesting that he “go to hellllll.” Berernson tweeted out his frustration and his story was picked up by Gothamist and HuffPost Travel. Upon being contacted by the Huffington Post his tweet was removed. The TSA is now reviewing the issue.

Security Agents vs. Security Threats

The spotlight remains on the TSA this week after four TSA staffers, two current and two former employees were arrested after allegedly accepting bribes to allow narcotics through LAX. Following a grand jury indictment that was unsealed on Wednesday, the screeners are accused of accepting $2,400 to allow suitcases with cocaine, methamphetamine and other drugs to pass through X-ray machines in five separate instances in 2011. The four were arrested earlier this week. If convicted, they face a minimum of 10 years in prison.

Dishonoring our heroes won last week’s Icarus Award. See all the past nominees in the Icarus Award section and vote her to select this week’s worst travel failure.

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By Lily J. Kosner for PeterGreenberg.com

Related links: MSNBC, Huffington Post, CNN, NBC New York, CBS Chicago