January 25th, 2010
by Joe Anello
Like most of her colleagues, University of Michigan student Rebecca Solomon was merely trying to catch a flight back to Detroit after spending the holidays with her parents in Philadelphia. Instead, she ended being the victim of an airport prank that unequivocally qualifies for a College News Epic Prank FAIL.
As detailed by her January 10th column for the U of M’s newspaper, the Michigan Daily, Solomon’s bags were being checked at Philadelphia’s airport when a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employee stopped to ask her questions.
A pro at air travel,Solomon could not fathom what the problem could be. After failing to adequately answer the employee’s questions, he pulled a small plastic bag filled with white powder out of her laptop case.
Shocked and confused, Solomon ran through every possible reason why the suspicious powder was in her possession. Did a terrorist drop it in her bag? Was she caught up in drug trafficking?
In tears, Soloman desperately tried to explain her almost improvable innocence. Then, the security worker smiled at her. Holding the bag in his hand, he told Soloman that he was only kidding. It was only a joke.
After emotionally explaining her situation to a total stranger, Soloman met with the director of security to explain the incident. She filed out a complaint form and didn’t understand when the employee in question wasn’t removed from his post. Two days after she arrived home, she called the airport and was informed that “disciplinary action had been taken.”
A recent New York Times article quotes TSA spokeswoman Suzanne Trevino as saying that, “The behavior exhibited by this TSA employee was highly inappropriate and unprofessional.”
The worker was also described as no longer employed at the agency but without an explanation as to the terms of his absence.
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Saul’s View:
Jokes in airports just don’t fly anymore (pun intended). I can appreciate a good practical joke in most situations and often feel like we too uptight about things on a societal scale. But this was ridiculous. Imagine if it had been the passenger joking with the TSA agent. “Oh that suspicious white substance is just laundry detergent. Just trying to keep you on your toes.” Handcuffs, jail cell, “no-fly” list.
And don’t TSA agents have better things to do than scare unsuspecting passengers? I would hope so. I’m happy this particular TSA agent is no longer employed in the business of keeping our airplanes safe.
Feel differently? E-mail me. I’d love to hear your take. saul@studyblue.com
Have a good week, everyone.
Saul