Theater of the absurdScreeners force a 4-year old disabled boy to remove supporting leg braces, then limp through security
TSA screeners at the Philadelphia airport force a 4-year old disabled boy to remove supporting leg braces, then limp through security on his own in front of stunned passengers; mom not allowed to hold boy’s hand; incident violates TSA policy that says that people with disabilities do not have to remove a support brace, and that they can ask for a private screening and can have assistance
TSA screeners at the Philadelphia airport forced a 4-year-old kid to remove his leg braces before letting him and his father go through — then forced the child to hobble through security without his braces by himself. Oraldno’s WESH.com reports that TSA apologized Tuesday to the boy and his family who were on their way to Orlando to go to Disney World.
Ryan Thomas, 4, was born four months prematurely and wears braces to support his weak legs. He was going to Florida to celebrate his birthday.
The family complains that TSA screeners not only insisted on the boy removing his braces, but them made him walk through security, with the officers not allowing his mom to hold his hand.
WESH.com reports that TSA’s policies said people with disabilities do not have to remove a support brace, and that they can ask for a private screening and can have assistance.
A TSA spokeswoman said the agency is investigation, but would not say whether the screener or supervisor has been fired.
