Latest news with #airportsecurity
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
5 ways to make a TSA officer hate you — and how to avoid it
Ever feel like a TSA officer has it out for you? You're not alone. The Transportation Security Administration screens millions of passengers daily. If you've never worked security at an airport, you probably can't imagine what it's like repeating the same instructions every few seconds, only to be ignored half the time. So, yes, some officers may seem short with you, but often, it's less about rudeness and more about exhaustion. TSA Officers don't actually hate you. But the truth is, they might be extremely annoyed with you—and for good reason. Still, knowing what grinds their gears can help you breeze through security faster and with fewer hiccups. Here's your unofficial guide to not being that traveler. You're late. Your gate is boarding. And you're contemplating begging a TSA officer to let you cut the line. Let me stop you right there. It's not going to work. If TSA made exceptions for every late passenger, there'd be chaos. Officers follow protocol to maintain fairness and order. But here's a Gate Access Tip: build rapport. When I was a TSO, frequent flyers who took the time to say hello, ask how I was doing, or follow up on previous conversations occasionally got waved through during slower moments. So instead of pushing your luck with entitlement, try kindness and consistency. You might be surprised how far it gets you. Trying to speed things up by handing over your family's entire batch of boarding passes? Don't. Each passenger is expected to present their own ID and boarding pass. This ensures accuracy, particularly in the age of facial recognition technology. It also reduces confusion and keeps lines moving smoothly. Gate Access Tip: If you're unsure, just ask: 'Would you prefer we go one-by-one?' Officers appreciate the courtesy, and it helps keep you from being added to their already long list of annoying travelers. You know that moment when the officer asks, 'Anything in your pockets?' and you say no, but the body scanner flags you anyway? Chances are, you left a crumpled tissue or receipt in there. And guess what? That 'harmless' tissue just made your screening process 10 minutes longer. Body scanners are extremely sensitive, designed to detect even the smallest objects. When you set off an alarm, it creates extra work and may trigger a pat-down. And no, saying 'It's just paper' won't help your case. Gate Access Tip: Before you get in line, do a full pocket sweep—not just for metal, but for paper, gum, and even ChapStick. If you didn't know, you can keep Chapstick in your hand. All you have to do is open the top so the TSA officer can take a quick look inside the tube. When your bag gets pulled aside, hands off. Seriously. That 'restricted side' of the conveyor belt isn't just a holding area—it's a controlled inspection zone. TSA officers are trained to inspect bags in a specific order, and interfering, even just to grab your shoes, can be seen as a security breach. Gate Access Tip: Want to avoid being barefoot for 10 minutes? Send your shoes through in a separate bin. That way, if your bag is flagged, you can still grab your shoes and at least stand comfortably while you wait. Choosing a pat-down over the full-body scanner is 100% within your rights. You have the legal authority to opt out of the scanner for any reason, whether for religious beliefs, health concerns, or personal discomfort. That said, TSA officers dread this option. Why? Because it requires stopping what they're doing, calling for a same-gender officer, and going through a time-consuming physical screening process. If you choose this route, pack your patience. It may take longer, especially during peak travel times when staff are stretched thin. But don't let officer frustration deter you because it's your right, and you should feel comfortable exercising it. TSA officers aren't trying to ruin your vacation; they're actually there to make sure you make it to your vacation safely. They're doing a high-stress job, often under tight time constraints. By avoiding these common missteps, you'll not only make their day a little easier, but you'll also make your own journey smoother. So next time you're at your home airport and navigating through the TSA checkpoint, try to stand out and be known as non-problematic, especially if you're a frequent flyer. It might not get you upgraded to first class, but it could save you some serious hassle.
New York Times
17 hours ago
- New York Times
Man Who Kicked Customs Dog Is Turned Away at D.C. Airport, U.S. Says
A man traveling on a tourist visa was arrested and kept from entering the United States this week after he was accused of kicking a trained detector dog at Dulles International Airport outside Washington, D.C., that had found more than 100 pounds of undeclared food in his luggage, the authorities said. The man, Hamed Ramadan Bayoumy Aly Marie, a native of Egypt, was arrested at the airport on Tuesday and pleaded guilty a day later to a misdemeanor charge of harming animals used in law enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a news release. Mr. Marie, 70, was accused of kicking the agriculture detector dog, a 5-year-old beagle named Freddie, 'so hard that he was lifted off of the ground,' according to court records filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Mr. Marie was said to have reacted after the dog alerted its handler to possible contraband in a piece of luggage in the baggage-claim area, according to court records. A lawyer listed for Mr. Marie did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday. Customs and Border Protection said that a search of Mr. Marie's luggage found that he was carrying 55 pounds of beef, 44 pounds of rice, 15 pounds of eggplant, cucumbers, and bell peppers, two pounds of corn seeds and a pound of herbs. All the of items 'were prohibited from entering the United States and seized,' the agency said. According to court records, Freddie was taken to a veterinary emergency room after the kick. The customs agency said that the dog, who weighs 25 pounds, was found to have contusions to his right forward rib area. 'Being caught deliberately smuggling well over 100 pounds of undeclared and prohibited agriculture products does not give one permission to violently assault a defenseless Customs and Border Protection beagle,' Christine Waugh, the agency's director for the area port of Washington, D.C., said in the news release. Agriculture detector dogs play an important role in 'screening passengers and cargo to prevent the introduction of harmful plant pests and foreign animal disease,' Customs and Border Protection said, adding that plant diseases, invasive species and weeds 'have cost nations millions to billions of dollars in eradication measures and lost revenues.' Mr. Marie, who was traveling on a tourist visa and left the country on Thursday, was credited with time served on the misdemeanor charge, the agency said, and he was ordered to pay $840 in restitution as well as $125 in fines and fees.
National Post
20 hours ago
- National Post
U.S. deports 70-year-old man after he 'violently' kicked a CBP dog at an airport
Article content A 70-year-old man has been deported from the United States after kicking a U.S. Customs and Border Protection dog at an airport in the Washington, D.C. area on Tuesday. Article content CBP agriculture detector dog Freddie, a five-year-old beagle, and his handler were inspecting bags during a routine screening after a flight landed at the Dulles International Airport from Cairo, Egypt. Article content Article content Article content Freddie alerted his handler to a suitcase belonging to the 70-year-old, when the man 'violently' kicked the animal 'with sufficient force to lift the 25-pound beagle off the ground,' authorities said Thursday. Officers handcuffed him and turned him over to Homeland Security Investigations agents. Article content The veterinarian who examined Freddie determined the beagle had contusions to his right forward rib area. CBP Public Affairs Officer Steve Sapp told National Post in an emailed statement that Freddie is still recovering. Article content The vet said he needed rest and prescribed low dose pain medication, said Sapp, adding that the beagle should be back to work in a week. Article content Authorities searched the man's baggage and said they found more than 100 pounds of food products, including 55 pounds of beef, 44 pounds of rice, 15 pounds of eggplant, cucumbers and bell peppers, two pounds of corn seeds and one pound of herbs. The items, which are on the prohibited list, were seized, per the agency. Article content Article content The man appeared before the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia and pled guilty to harming animals used in law enforcement. He was credited with time served, ordered to pay the veterinarian bill and to report to CBP to be deported. Article content According to court documents obtained by CBS News, the veterinarian fee amounted to US$840. Article content He left the U.S. on a flight to Egypt at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday. Article content 'Being caught deliberately smuggling well over one hundred pounds of undeclared and prohibited agriculture products does not give one permission to violently assault a defenseless Customs and Border Protection beagle,' said CBP's Area Port Director for the Area Port of Washington, D.C. Christine Waugh. Article content She added that Freddie was 'just doing his job.' Article content CBP K9 Freddy: Small dog, BIG impact! 🐶💪 With his handler, Officer Snyder, this talented pup is keeping our food and farms safe at Washington Dulles International Airport #ProtectingAgriculture #PawsontheFrontline #BugBustingBeagles #FarmDefenders #OFOproud🇺🇸🌾🍊 Posted by CBP Office of Field Operations on Friday, March 21, 2025 Article content Freddie, who is part of CBP's Beagles Brigade, helps screen passengers and cargo 'to prevent the introduction of harmful plant pests and foreign animal disease from entering the U.S.,' the CBP said. Article content
Al Bawaba
3 days ago
- Al Bawaba
Video: 18-month-old child in coma after being violently thrown to the ground at Moscow Airport
ALBAWABA - A video has caused panic and anger among Russians after an 18-month-old child fell into a coma after he was violently picked up by a stranger and thrown to the ground at Moscow Airport. Shocking footage was shared on social media showing the moment a baby boy was lifted and thrown headfirst into the floor by a male passenger in the arrivals hall of Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport. According to sources, the little boy, who had just arrived in Russia with his mother after fleeing from Iran, was hospitalized, and he is now in a coma, suffering from serious skull fractures and spinal injuries. A man was arrested after attacking a child at Moscow Airport. (X) He is in a critical condition, fighting for his life, The Nightly outlet said on Wednesday. The Daily Mail said the boy's pregnant mother was collecting his pushchair following their flight. Some media reportedly said that the attacker is being questioned by police on suspicion of being under the influence of drugs when he committed this horrific action. The alleged attacker, who was arrested by security forces at the Moscow Airport, was identified as a 31-year-old Vladimir Vitkov from Belarus, lingering near the child, who was standing next to the suitcase. Then, out of the sudden, the man picked him up and threw him hard to the ground. Warning/ Distressing content :
CBS News
5 days ago
- CBS News
Inert grenade confiscated from carry-on bag at Detroit Metro security checkpoint
An inert grenade — which did not contain explosive materials — was confiscated last week at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, the Transportation Security Administration said. The TSA officers had detected the item on June 15 in a traveler's carry-on bag during routine screening at the airport's security checkpoint, the report said. That security checkpoint was evacuated and closed until a TSA explosive specialist and airport law enforcement determined the grenade was inert. Despite the actual status of such an item, the TSA says replicas of explosives, such as hand grenades, are prohibited in both checked and carry-on baggage. "I am proud of our dedicated officers who remain vigilant and work hard to keep our transportation systems secure and the traveling public safe," said TSA's Federal Security Director for Michigan, Reggie Stephens. "When individuals bring prohibited items to our checkpoints, it significantly slows down the security screening process for other travelers." The TSA routinely issues press releases and social media posts about what its officers intercept at security checkpoints, using them as examples in public service reminders. The "top 10 catches" for 2024, as shown on the TSA Instagram account, included a knife shoved inside a shoe, a live snake in someone's pants and a replica improvised explosive device. To help travelers prepare for their flights, TSA has a "What Can I Bring" feature on its website that allows travelers to type in an item to learn if it can be packed in a carry-on or checked bag. Another option is texting questions to 275-872 ("AskTSA") or through @AskTSA on X or Facebook Messenger, where an automated virtual assistant is available 24/7.
