Agency Says Protocols Were Followed

An elderly woman from New York who opted out of screening by a body scanner before her flight says she was "injured and humiliated" by what she called a "strip search" which caused her to miss her plane. But TSA says on its blog that no strip search occurred.

Lenore Zimmerman, 84, was in a wheelchair and carrying a walker when she entered the security line at KJDK Tuesday for a 1:00 pm flight to Florida, where she spends the winters. The Associated Press reports that the woman felt like the scanner would interfere with her defibrillator, so she opted out of the scanning procedure.

She says she was taken to a private room and made to remove clothing including her pants. She says she banged her shin during the process, which because of blood-thinning medication she takes caused her to bleed "like a pig," in her words. She says that the enhanced screening process caused her to miss her flight, and that she had to take one two hours later to get to her winter home in Florida.

TSA says all protocols were followed in the case. In a statement published on the agency's blog, TSA says Ms. Zimmerman was contacted and offered an apology because "she feels she had an unpleasant screening experience."

But the posting from "Blogger Bob" asserts that TSA does not include "strip searches" in its protocols and "a strip search did not occur in this case. We're currently gathering information and reviewing the screening of this passenger, but we wanted to share what we know so far."

According to TSA:

"A review of CCTV (Closed Circuit TV) indicates the passenger opted out of advanced imaging technology and requested a pat-down. It is TSA’s policy that screening procedures are conducted in a manner that treats all passengers with dignity, respect and courtesy.

"CCTV shows that the passenger arrived at the ticket counter at 12:19 p.m. for her 1 p.m. scheduled flight which left early at 12:50 p.m.

"She entered the checkpoint line in a wheelchair, walker in hand.

"The passenger opted out of advanced imaging technology screening, requested a pat-down and told the officers that she was wearing a back brace or support belt which required private screening.

"Private screening was conducted by two female officers. The item was removed, re-screened, and the passenger was cleared for travel. Nothing unusual was depicted on the CCTV as the passenger and two female officers entered and exited the room. The wheelchair attendant assisted the passenger in departing the checkpoint area for the gate.

TSA says that "terrorists remain focused on attacking transportation through tactics such as concealing explosives under clothing. Further, as evidenced by the Christmas Day 2009 attempted bombing, concealed anomalies under clothing must continue to be resolved and cleared as part of the screening process to ensure the item does not pose a threat to the safety of the traveling public. Terrorists and their targets may also range in age." The cite a group of elderly men who were planning on using toxic ricin against U.S. citizens, U.S government and officials.

For her part, Zimmerman says she does not plan to get back on a plane until April, when she returns from Florida to New York.

FMI: www.tsa.gov