Man Ignores TSA, Walks Through Security Checkpoint And Gets Tackled

No one wants to wait in line at security, and sometimes the lines can be long. That’s why I have PreCheck and also CLEAR – though when the PreCheck lines are short I don’t bother with CLEAR since the process of waiting for one of their staffers and using their machines to do an iris scan takes longer than showing my ID.

I’ve shown up at the airport where both TSA and CLEAR lines were long, and the only way to make my flight was to cut the line. In the confusion of all of the passengers that was doable, if a bit aggressive. As long as you don’t get into a fight in the line you’re probably going to be fine. But breaking rules inside of the screening area will never go well.

One man decided just to press through the screening checkpoint… without stopping for screening.

What strikes me, beyond the obvious outcome that the man gets tackled, is that he’s carrying both a large red duffle bag and also a guitar. Assuming that someone storming the checkpoint isn’t following rules like getting an extra seat for his musical instrument, he’s got two carry-ons rather than one full-sized carry on and a personal item. Odds on he would have had to storm the boarding gate, too, if he’d somehow gotten past TSA – otherwise he’d have had to gate check one of his items.

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Comments

  1. If I’m in the security line and somebody comes running up behind in an obvious panic, I absolutely let them “cut” the line. I assume they’re late for their flight and as I always allow plenty of time, I’m happy to let them go ahead in the hope they’ll make it.

  2. Sort of scary that it took 4 TSA and 2 Security about 80 seconds to bring him down. If he was trouble, then there was going to be some.

  3. The guy looks like every crazy bum on every corner and is behaving that way. It always boggles my mind as to how crazy people even have money to fly.

  4. Ah, so that’s what happens when you do that…. You are doing the right thing Jennifer, and I sincerely hope most people are as considerate. I am sorry to say that too often there is a jerk or two who will assert their self-given right to show that they are big and “important”. Of course the more they act like that the smaller they show they are.

  5. Who wouldn’t have seen that coming. Especially that these LE look for situations like this to show their aggression.

  6. Dan says:
    October 6, 2023 at 12:52 pm

    Yeah Dan, I cannot figure how these brainless, angry Karens have money to fly!

  7. I’m shocked the overweight TSA agents did any sort of physical interventions. Doubt that’s in their job description. Normally they’d declare a breech, empty the wing then rescreen everyone again. Its happened for less. Watch for worker’s comp claims next…

  8. The problem is that his behavior — pushing through an obvious safety checkpoint with a big backpack even as they try to stop him — is exactly what a psycho with c4 and a bag of nails would do to detonate in the middle m of the crowd.

  9. Also a way to do something worse. While all the TSA and Cops are dealing with his distraction… what is happening elsewhere?

  10. Man has a full backpack and is acting erratically at a crowded security checkpoint. Amazing how everyone just stands there and films it with their phones. 2023 America: Social media views >>> potentially getting blown up

  11. I once cut in line in 1994 in Auckland, New Zealand because I was late for a flight. Others in the line let me after I said sorry many times and said why I was passing them. Once in 30 years and thousands of flights is ok, in my opinion.

  12. “he’s got two carry-ons rather than one full-sized carry on and a personal item.”
    I see lots of people board with more than allowed. A couple coming back from Seoul last year filled an entire overhead and then put more in another. These were large bags. How do they get them on the plane???

  13. Good point Mr 305. Plus they don’t want to lose their place in line. Where are the TASR guns? Or have we wokenly determined that they are too inhumane today?

  14. It did NOT actually take “4 TSA and 2 cops 80 seconds” to bring this guy down. If they wanted, they could have dropped his stupid a** in 5 seconds.

    But they were being overly gentle because of his completion. None of them wanted to end up with Ben Crump saying their name on TV.

  15. What Thing1 and gene said.

    I also would expect the takedown was made more difficult due to concern about the appearances.

  16. Lots of race cards at play about this scuffle. Woke, appearances, “completion”, such covert name calling. I guess no plaster people ever act up like fools. NOT!

  17. Actually in retrospect this was a total failure by the LEO’s by not taking him down with a bullet to the head. Are just going to watch as a suicide bomber takes out a crowd? Where are the guys paid to stand around with the machine guns, what are they waiting for? Welcome to woke America, WP!

  18. They should have capped him the moment he crossed the line.

    One incident like that would put an end to this kind of thing.

    Just put him down.

  19. So, Gary often states “if you never miss a flight, you’re getting to the airport too early” and talks about how he doesn’t leave much of a buffer on purpose. And then when there’s consequences of showing up late, he cuts in front of others in the line.

  20. Over 20 years from 9/11 and we ordinary travelers are the target. Wouldn’t security need bumped to extremes at the gates to the planes and hangers by now? And why can’t they scan us when entering the Airport instead of after getting into the building?

    The TSA hasn’t lost any personnel to misplace luggage, and THEY GET THEIR RAISES. When I went to the Airport in Sac, and LAX there wasn’t a line at security anywhere. And they vasicslly did all the screening on the concourse walkway before you get on board the plane. Seems far smarter than piling up a mile from any of the planes doorways.

    Fire them if they can’t stop being a pest to us the paying travelers like at DIA. It’s ridiculously poor planning.

  21. The author of this article left out a lot of information such as Who, What, When, Where, How and Why. But he did talk about himself.

  22. Yea, how about some followup? What’s his excuse / rationale? Who is he blaming (the white establishment obviously)? What were in the bags, etc? Love to hear it, there’s always a spin and no jail…

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