TSA's criminal behavior
When someone commits a crime that damages someone else's property, they are charged with that crime and (usually) forced to pay for the damages and often other costs. But what happens when government commits a crime? This week, it responded not by apologizing and paying for the damage it caused, but by suggesting it might fine the victim up to $175,000.
Several news agencies have reported that a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agent performing an 'inspection' used the aircraft's Total Air Temperature (TAT) probes as hand- and foot-holds to enter nine American Eagle ERJ's. TAT probes are not hand- and/or foot-holds and using them as such could damage the aircraft and adversely impact the safety of flight. American Eagle removed the nine aircraft from service to perform inspections resulting in the delay of 40 flights. Some reports indicate that same agent may have actually damaged other aircraft in the past performing similar so-called inspections.
Now what would have happened if some non-government individual had done exactly the same thing as the TSA agent? That person would have been charged with multiple crimes and found liable for the damages to American Eagle, including any actual aircraft damage (there turned out not to be any, fortunately), and the cost to the company of the 40 delayed flights (likely significant).
What did TSA do? It said it was going to fine American Eagle up to $175,000. TSA strongly defended its inspector's actions instead of apologizing for them. The FBI stood by the TSA, saying they won't investigate the inspector for tampering with aircraft equipment. No apology, no compensation for damages.
Now there's a new source of concern for the safety of your next flight: the TSA. Until now, the TSA has simply harassed and threatened passengers outside of airplanes. Now, TSA openly threatens the safety of flight and insists that they're right to do so. TSA's attitude in this matter makes it clear that they have no business being anywhere near aviation where they threaten the lives of innocent people with their aggressive and destructive behavior.
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Several news agencies have reported that a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agent performing an 'inspection' used the aircraft's Total Air Temperature (TAT) probes as hand- and foot-holds to enter nine American Eagle ERJ's. TAT probes are not hand- and/or foot-holds and using them as such could damage the aircraft and adversely impact the safety of flight. American Eagle removed the nine aircraft from service to perform inspections resulting in the delay of 40 flights. Some reports indicate that same agent may have actually damaged other aircraft in the past performing similar so-called inspections.
Now what would have happened if some non-government individual had done exactly the same thing as the TSA agent? That person would have been charged with multiple crimes and found liable for the damages to American Eagle, including any actual aircraft damage (there turned out not to be any, fortunately), and the cost to the company of the 40 delayed flights (likely significant).
What did TSA do? It said it was going to fine American Eagle up to $175,000. TSA strongly defended its inspector's actions instead of apologizing for them. The FBI stood by the TSA, saying they won't investigate the inspector for tampering with aircraft equipment. No apology, no compensation for damages.
Now there's a new source of concern for the safety of your next flight: the TSA. Until now, the TSA has simply harassed and threatened passengers outside of airplanes. Now, TSA openly threatens the safety of flight and insists that they're right to do so. TSA's attitude in this matter makes it clear that they have no business being anywhere near aviation where they threaten the lives of innocent people with their aggressive and destructive behavior.
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