Photographer Detained Shooting Pictures Of B-24

A photographer for The Dallas Observer was detained at Dallas's Addison airport, a reliever airport north of the city and Love Field, when TSA officials challenged his right to be on the tarmac taking pictures of a B-24 Liberator (file photo below) which was giving rides for Father's Day.

The photographer, identified only as "Danny" in the blog in The Observer online, had the permission of the owners and pilots of the Liberator to take the shots. He was waiting for the airplane to take off when he was approached by Addison police officers, one with an unholstered gun, who handcuffed the photographer and held him until TSA could clear him. He was told he was violating federal law, and that a report would be sent to TSA. The incident even closed the airport for a short time.

The photographer was told he could not be on the "tarmac", which he did not realize included the areas adjacent to the runway.

Eventually, the problem was sorted out. One of the Liberator crew told him later that he'd been ID'd as being OK for the photo shoot, and that the tower personnel tried to keep the incident from happening, but "once the wheels were set in motion, it could not be stopped" the photographer said. "The pilots were pretty much cool and laughed at me and were even willing to escort me to take more shots. However, the officer had asked me to leave, so I did. The police were professional, and I consider myself lucky."

FMI: www.tsa.gov