30 Harmless Things Which Nevertheless Caused People To Be Stopped By TSA Officers, As Shared In This Online Group

I've heard so many horror stories from people with insulin pumps where their pumps get mistaken for something else and they get into some kind of trouble for it. This one is probably the most understandable but still- they can't be too hard to recognize, right?

This is why I always announce to TSA agents right away that I am wearing an insulin pump. Haven't had a problem since I tell them I can't go through the sensors and then I show them the pump.

That is lawsuit worthy.

Can someone give me a logical explanation for the TSA getting paychecks with actions like this?

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I was going to a Star Wars convention in Germany and brought one of my Stormtrooper armor sets, in a big tote that had to get checked, but the helmet was in a motorcycle helmet bag I take as a carry on. The bored looking fellow at the check in counter asked what was in the tote and squealed with delight when I told him it was Stormtrooper armor. I asked if he wanted to see the helmet, he said of course he did. He checked all my bags for free. Then the TSA guy saw my Star Wars t-shirt and asked me if it pissed me off when the scene in the original Star Wars (EpIV) was changed so Greedo shot first.

A lot of guys I suspect don’t wear any underwear.

at least it wasn't like this other stories i have heard.... some about how they opened the tin and spilled the ashes, then another they didn't close it tight and when the person goes back home with it, their clothes were covered in their loved ones' ashes in a suitcase that was holding it, and another that just dumped them out in the trash..... people are f****d

I was traveling from Hawaii to the mainland with my Mom's ashes. I had a permit issued by the state to transport the ashes in addition to a letter from the funeral home stating the plastic box contained human cremains. The woman at TSA told me that she would not accept the permit or letter and proceeded to open the box. When she was about to sift through the ashes I began screaming. When other passengers began yelling at her she stopped and handed me back the open box without any apology.

So sorry for OP’s loss! But have to say I’m shocked that the TSA agent actually listened to the suggestion, especially on a high alert as they normally don’t.

Sounds like the plot of a SpongeBob episode

Cool I like that

My dad got arrested once and detained another time because of his tan complexion and mediterranean looks. The police was looking for "a moroccan man" (that probably did nothing and were blaming because of their xenophobia) and decided to arrest him. The irony is that he was in our country, spain, and he is spanish. Many here have a lot of jewish and moorish ancestors and look very mediterranean (and good looking unlike pale me). But the police of the same country is still racist/xenophobic as f**k.

My dad used to get pulled every single time for international flights when they stopped at Florida before leaving the country because of his name. His noy too common Spanish name was similar to some criminals so he always got stopped. Eventually he added his middle name and mother's maiden name on tickets and it happened less

I remember travelling in the wake of 9/11 and my partner who, previously, was ALWAYS randomly selected for searches started being left alone. But, as OP says, from that point on they started racially profiling passengers instead..

One of my friends looks very white, but has a very Arab-sounding last name (her father is Syrian). She gets stopped every single time she flies.

I was having to fly from Canada to Jamaica, regularly for almost 3 years when my mother was unwell. The trips were usually short, 4 to 10 days max. When asked about my first trip by Canadian Customs officials I explained I had my Mum's POA I would be making frequent short trips. Never a problem. In early 2012 I had to make a detour to Philadelphia to get some signatures on some legal documents from cousins regarding jointly owned land so that I could arrange to sell the land as agreed. TSA saw all those trips to Jamaica , I told them the same thing as I had told the Canadian officials and that this was a detour for signatures. Ever since I get pulled aside for "random extra screening every time I fly into or through the USA. I used to have to travel for work 3 or 4 times a year. I retired early in 2015 Mum died in late 2013. I avoid flying to the USA. will pay extra. One they flag you you are flagged for life.

Only an assumption but I think the OP was black, implying a white person searched OP for no reason.

And the fact the TSA agent was a Black woman matters because...?

Report and sue

What relevance is the TSA woman's color in this story?

The black part could have been omitted

I'm too tall for my age, it's a thing!

Brother did something similar. Bought a stone chess set, that he proceeded to individually wrap in socks and line the bottom of his bag with....

DEFCON 1? Jeez, I guess I'll never put my charge next to a bag of rocks next timi fly

Brass domino set

I had a paper bag with 5 fridge magnets in it. Had to open my bag to show what they were as it just looks like a big lump of suspicion. For a change TSA were nice but I have had some other awkward situations - think a band aid on my ankle that showed up in the full body scan (flesh coloured so no-one could work out what the problem was, including me).

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whenever something like this happens where I live they offer you to send the item to the intended address - my mother once bought a pocket knife for my mother in law and completely forgot to move it from her purse into the checked-in luggage. They sent it to my MIL, paid extra for that of course but at least we got the item back.

It was OP in the cockpit with the nutcracker..

Yes, to beat your dumb a*s with

I mixed up firecracker and Nutcracker for a second.

If only TSA had proper training.

I was coming home from Germany with my then-wife (different last name) and my two step sons, who had their fathers name (different from both of ours). Travelling to Europe and around three countries had been no problem, but when we were flying home they wanted to know who the boys were. We explained, and they asked for proof they were our kids. It got awkward, they thought we were trafficking kids out of the country. I finally said to the officer if they wanted the boys they could have them. They took 2 seconds, then stamped all four passports and wished us a happy trip home. Things only a parent would say...

the fact the guard hit on her is why they were stopped. this is why i really really don't trust people in authority. too many of them get into it so they can get their own way.

I would say that they saw signs that they are told to look for to detect human trafficking. Acting a bit controlling, not letting you out of his reach, possibly him having both ids, him doing the speaking for you. .

I live in Atlanta and the tsa is freaking aggressive. When I was 14 I didn’t have any form of identification because I didn’t have a license or even permit yet (driving) and they questioned me at the booth as to whether or not I was the age I said 🙄 they thought I was older and trying to blend in with the rest of my group; we were traveling as a sports team. Another time I brought scissors in my bag because I needed to work on a school project and I checked first they were regulation size. The bag was pulled aside and they threw them out anyway… I know it’s a stressful job though, and I respect the importance of it

My husband flew from Atlanta to Chicago with a Craftsman multi-tool (big knife, scissors, etc) he forgot was in a backpack he rarely uses. No one noticed it until he went through security in Chicago on the way back.

My first plane trip was domestic, from Melbourne to Brisbane. No problems on the way there, but on the way home they found a pair of scissors in my pencil case and confiscated them. My mum complained because she would now have to buy me new scissors for school. I was just confused because they hadn't been picked up on the first flight and I had forgotten I even had them.

I’ve gotten through German TSA with knitting needles, numerous times.