tsa agents took my son
As I sit and write this post, 24 hours after this event took place, my hands still shake… with rage and with terror.
I woke up this morning to my husband’s alarm clock, sat straight up in bed and thought “Where’s Jackson?” with fear paralyzing me.
My worst nightmare took place yesterday. Worse than events that have taken place and that I have survived in my short 28 years of living. Worse than my wildest of dreams could conjure.
My son was taken from me.
Taken.
My son was taken from me by the TSA agents at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson airport yesterday.
He was taken away from me and OUT OF MY SIGHT because his pacifier clip went off when I carried him through the metal detector.
According to the Transportation Security Administration website, “We will not ask you to do anything that will separate you from your child or children.”
Bullshit TSA.
You took my son. MY SON.
Here’s what took place… minute by terrifying minute…
I had Jackson in his stroller, his diaper bag, and a duffle bag which contained my mac book as I entered security. I placed all of these items on the conveyor belt to go through the metal detector. Jackson was in my arms, and in the midst of getting all of our gear on the conveyor belt, my mistake was neglecting to take off my son’s pacifier clip that hangs from his shirt, which is metal.
The instant I walked through the metal detector with Jackson in my arms, we beeped. I knew exactly why.
I told the TSA agent, who asked me to back up and walk through again, “It’s my son’s pacifier clip, can I put it on the conveyor belt?”
“Ma’am turn around and come back please,” I was told.
Of course Jackson’s clip went off again. Both Jackson and I were then escorted to a 6 ft tall plastic holding box because I was forced to wait for a female TSA agent to search me.
At this point in time, all of my belongings were sitting at the opposite end of the conveyor belt, thereby backing up every other passengers belongings because I was not there to gather mine.
A woman out of the kindness of her heart (and if you are out there somewhere reading this, THANK YOU) saw me just standing and waiting in my 6 ft plastic box and gathered my belongings for me. She waited with my stroller, my diaper bag, my duffle bag and my mac book. This woman motioned to me that everything (including my flip flops) was all together and then she left.
She must be a mother.
She understood.
I was so grateful.
4 female TSA agents stood at the end of 2 conveyor belts, gloves on their hands, none of them searching anyone, none of them doing anything but watching luggage pass through the conveyor belts.
It was at this point in time that I realized my flight was leaving in less than 45 minutes. I had not even been searched yet. I began to panic.
Through the 6 holes in the plastic box that contained Jackson and I, I began asking for help. I waved to all 4 female TSA agents, each of them looked at me and then looked away. Then I started speaking through the 6 holes, and said, “Can someone please search me? My flight leaves in less than 45 minutes.”
Each of the 4 women answered me using the same exact phrase…
“Ma’am you need to wait. I don’t care about your departure time.”
Eventually one of the four female TSA agents opened the door and let Jackson and I out of our plastic containment box. We were escorted to a chair that was opposite from where my belongings were. I asked if I could bring my belongings over or take a seat closer to where they were. I was told no and to take my seat.
At this point in time, my heart began to race, thinking we would miss our flight and I would be stuck in the Atlanta airport with Jackson for who knows how long until there was another flight to Baltimore.
The female TSA agent stood in front of me while I sat with Jackson and she continued to watch luggage come through the conveyor belt.
“Ma’am, can someone please just search me so we can be on our way? We are going to miss our flight,” I said.
The female agent then called an older gentleman, also a TSA agent over. The male TSA agent stood in front of me and said “I’m going to have to pat down your son.”
With Jackson still sitting in my lap (he was being so good despite all of this chaos) I said ok and continued to hold on to my son, expecting the male TSA agent to start touching Jackson.
He then told me, “I’m going to have to pick him up to inspect him.”
I rolled my eyes and sternly told him “It’s his pacifier clip that went off, can’t you just run that back through the belt and let us go. We are going to miss our flight.”
The female TSA agent, who had been standing there the entire time said to me, “You need to adjust your attitude and do as you are told.”
The male TSA agent repeated, “I’m going to have to pick him up to inspect him.”
I handed him my son.
I handed him my son and he walked away with my child.
My eyes welled up with tears, I stood up from my chair and I asked the female TSA agent, “Where is he going? Where is he taking my child? Why is he leaving?”
Jackson, while being whisked away looked at the male TSA agent awkwardly and repeated “no no no no.”
I started crying.
The female TSA agent did not answer me.
Panic set in. My hands began to shake. My body was sweating. My breath was short and my heart was racing.
They had taken my child and not told me.
Jackson was out of my eye sight.
I could not see my son.
Now sobbing, I repeated my questions to the female TSA agent.
She told me “Ma’am, we’re trying to be nice to you. We don’t know which one of you went off in the metal detector. Stay here so I can search you.”
“But my son… where is my son?” I asked over and over again.
The female TSA agent called a second female TSA agent over as she began to search me. Apparently the second female TSA agent could hear me protesting and asking for my son.
“Ma’am you need to calm down or I’m going to have to involve the authorities,” she told me.
Now I was pissed.
Horrified. Terrified. Enraged.
“You fucking get the authorities,” I told the female TSA agent while the other continued to wand me and forced me to unbutton my jeans because the button beeped when she went over my abdomen with her wand.
“You get the goddamn authorities right the fuck now and tell them to GIVE ME MY SON,” I said.
I began to black out. I knew I was having a full on panic attack. I feared passing out.
I was told to take my seat again, after being searched, but I was not allowed to collect my belongings.
My cell phone was within reach and I grabbed it without being seen by the TSA agents.
I called my husband. I do not remember what I told him on the phone in terms of Jackson and what took place.
I do recall asking him to calm me down because I could not breathe. As a father, he couldn’t. I imagine any father would do the same. Paul had questions, tons of questions. Questions that I was not capable of answering because I literally was losing my breath and on the verge of blacking out.
I hung up and called my mother.
“Jackson’s gone,” I remember telling her. I do not remember what she said in return, but she instantly could tell I was having a panic attack. She began breathing with me on the phone in an attempt to calm me down.
She told me, “Nic, you’re going to have to stop crying. You need to be strong for Jackson. He’s going to be that much more scared if he sees mommy so upset. In through your nose… out through your mouth…” I think she may have counted, or had me count, I don’t know.
Jackson was still gone.
My guess is that all of this took place within a period of 10 minutes or less.
It felt like hours… days even.
My son was gone.
Sobbing and seated, I watched both female TSA agents walk away from me and go back to monitoring luggage come through the conveyor belt.
Finally the male TSA agent who took Jackson brought him back.
Jackson was in my sight and immediately started yelling, “Mommy!”
I was hysterical.
Running to my son and grabbing him from the male TSA agent’s arms, I sobbed and yelled obscenities at every single TSA agent who stood guard at the end of the conveyor belts.
One of them asked me if I wanted to speak to a supervisor.
Through tears I told him (or her, I don’t remember) that I had a flight I was about to miss.
With Jackson in my arms, I gathered our belongings, through him in the stroller and ran to the elevator that took us down to the tram to take us to our concourse where our plane waited.
B-25.
Sobbing as we traveled down the elevator, then during the tram ride, and up the next elevator to our concourse, I began running to our gate. I approached two female Delta agents at the desk of gate B-25.
“How much time do I have before this flight leaves?” I asked, knowing I needed to get to a bathroom due to my panic attack.
Looking at me concerned, I was told I had 5 minutes.
I ran to the bathroom. I placed Jackson on the diaper changing station with his juice and then I hit the floor. I could not see. I had no peripheral vision.
Channeling my mother, thinking of my phone call with her, I began to calm down.
I had an emergency Xanax in my jeans pocket. I always carry an emergency Xanax in my pocket. The result of severe anxiety.
I took the pill, but it did very little. I was so traumatized that it would’ve taken probably 4 Xanax to get my blood pressure back down to a normal level.
Splashing my face with cold water, then grabbing Jackson, I ran back to gate B-25.
Both female Delta agents looked at me and asked how they could help. I told them that my ticket had me at an aisle seat and if I could switch to a window (Jackson LOVES the window).
They told me that if I didn’t mind sitting at the back of the plane, they could give me an entire row to myself.
I started crying again. I told them a shortened version of what had just taken place and how grateful I was for their kindness.
One of the female Delta agents walked me down the jetway, helping me with the stroller and getting it a gate-claim ticket.
I hugged her. I thanked her. I got on the plane.
I had my son and we were on the plane.
I called my mother again, telling her briefly that I was on and to please call Paul. I didn’t remember that I had spoken to Paul earlier, and thought he did not know any of what had taken place.
Mom said she would call Paul and tell him everything. She reminded me that I had my son and we were on our way home.
Both Jackson and I slept during the flight. I held him so close that when he woke up, his head was drenched in sweat.
Our nightmare ended once the plane landed in Baltimore. Jackson and I exited, walked out of the concourse and Jackson demanded to get out of the stroller.
He ran to his daddy.
We were home.
**********
I’m unsure how to end this post. I do not know what my story will lead to (if anything) but I needed to do more than file a complaint or write a letter. My hope is that this post of mine will be read by mothers and fathers, passed along to parents traveling with their children… most of all, my hope is that NO PARENT HAS THEIR CHILD TAKEN FROM THEM.
TSA TOOK MY SON IN ATLANTA HARTSFIELD-JACKSON AIRPORT.
THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN TO ANY PARENT. EVER.
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Oh my god oh my god. I swear, I almost had a panic attack READING this. How could they take him AWAY from you?! With no reason? They could search him (and seriously, how hard is it to search a small child?) in front of you…they should have NEVER separated the two of you!
I cannot IMAGINE what you are going through. I would totally contact the ACLU in your state. This is OUTRAGEOUS.
Oh my gosh, I am so sorry this happened to you!! This post made me cry…I can’t even imagine the panic and fear. Something must be done.
Whew! Reading your post brought back some BAD memories for me. A few years back – I was flying from PIT to DFW by myself with my three kids – 2, 4 and 9. My 9 year old has Down syndrome and PDD (autistic traits). TSA agents told me that the airline had flagged my son for a more thorough inspection…and they would be ‘taking him’. I said “Can you please take me – he has Down syndrome and autism…I can tell you now it won’t go well”. They didn’t even acknowledge my question. He had no clue what was happening…I was not ‘allowed’ to be with him (I was also trying to situate my 2 & 4 year old girls). The wand they were using to scan him – had a beeping sound that was driving him absolutely bonkers. I, like you was hysterical watching a bad situation turn worse. Seeing me so upset – upset my four year old, etc… The story goes on…but you get the gist of it. What happened to both of us should never happen!!!!!
smells like bs
I went through a similiar situation 3 summers ago. I had an expired idea by two weeks because I was at disney world working for a summer and turned 21 down there. They told me I’d go through a lot of extra security… and I did… and they treated me like a criminal and were not comforting at all.
I don’t care who they are but the truth is, they scare true Americans who would NEVER do anything and the real terrorists are laughing.
TSA agents think they have too much power. They do not have that much power. They abused it and that is not okay.
Ever.
But we are subject to them. And I hate it, every time I go to the airport I fear one of them having a power trip. Because it’s up to them.
And if we fight it? We’re screwed.
I’m so sorry Nic, so so sorry.
This had better be righted.
Because it is so freaking wrong.
I have a shunt so I am patted down and put in that damn plasyc box every time I go to the airport. It’s humiliating!!! But to have your child taken from you out of your sight at an airport where as far as you knew he could have been kidnapped cause the female agents were to busy gossiping amongst themselves. I’m sueprised you didn’t pass out worrying if your child was on a plane somewhere!!! I would have to file suit against them.
OMFG. Horrible. So wrong. Gah. I’m another person saying, okay, not even a mom, but heart in throat / lump / omg physical reactions reading this!
I had to walk away and do some stuff around the house for a bit, because OMG this was freaking me out. I can’t even imagine. I hope the TSA gets a major smack-down over this!!!
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To the person who wrote the following:
> they should pour money on you for pain and
> suffering.
Pain and suffering? Seriously? It’s a bad ordeal and if the action happened the way that this individual describes, then the actions need corrected. However, there is no evidence of “pain” or “suffering”. Emotional distress, yes, but pain and suffering, no.
You are talking about someone who carries meds for anxiety. There is nothing wrong with that, but I would guess that doesn’t help the situation.
To the author of this post:
I am VERY sorry this happened to you and I’m sure that from your perspective, that’s exactly the way it happened. Calm down a bit, and consider what you might have done differently if you had to go through it again? Did your anxiety possibly cause others to react? Did your behavior cause others to worry? I’m just playing devils advocate here. Calling out people doing their job and trying to keep us safe is serious, so I just want you to be sure of your charge. You are making a charge that could affect their livelihood — their ability to put food on the table for their children.
Did they make a mistake? Based on your story, Yes. Does it need to be dealt with? Based on your story, Yes. I’m just asking that you temper your wrath and make sure you think through your story before putting your hell-envied fury on them. Try to take responsibility for your actions in this too as this will help you gain traction when filing a complaint against TSA agents. TSA agents are told to watch for anxious people and certain attitudes. _IF_ you had any anxiety while going through this ordeal as you clearly say you did, this could have been worrisome for those agents.
Thanks for listening and I hope this whole mess gets straightened out and procedures at the airport get improved over your story. I know it may not sound like it, but I _AM_ cheering for you. It’s very important that we stand up when we feel we’ve been poorly treated. I just hope you do it in a responsible way.
Good luck!
I don’t know if you’ve followed up with any supervisors regarding this, but I definitely think you should. This is unacceptable. Taking Jackson out of your arms to check him is totally different than taking him out of your sight. Should NEVER HAPPEN.
Hang in there. You’re a brave mama.
I am sooooo sorry this happened to you. And your sweet little boy.
This also happened to my BFF and her 7 year old son who has downs syndrome. He functions on about a 6 month old level. No verbal skills. He’s in a wheelchair because he can’t walk. And they were also SEPARATED. She panicked as well.
What a bunch of shit.
I’d make sure that those who did this to you were held accountable and reprimanded accordingly.
How DARE they take your child from you like that.
I would not of stood for that.
It’s time to call a lawyer.
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That’s just insane! I think, considering the situation, you handled yourself well above what anyone else would have been able to.
I would have been in jail after this because there would have been one hell of a tussle between me and Mr. TSA man. There is just NO excuse for how the TSA handled this situation. A child should NEVER be seperated from their parents like this.
…
Seriously, I’m breathing hard and fuming.
…
Hun, anyone EVER takes my kids out of my sight and I will end up in prison.
The fact that your’re still free to blog means you exhibited more self control than any parent would expect of you.
Wow. You’re really good for my blog. I just got an idea for a new post
Something about the government and exactly WHO has authority over my children.
Keep it up Nic!
Nic, this is bullshit. I’m sorry this happened to you. What a nightmare. I can’t understand what was up these TSA Agents ass that they thought you and Magoo were trouble?
I hope you get answers, and apology and some major ass kissing from TSA.
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Unbelievable!!! I live in Atlanta and can’t imagine the people at TSA would treat a mother like that.
You must complain all the way to the top (as high as that may be).
Some people have no Shame!!
I feel for you. This is unacceptable. Why is it they could search you in full view, but yet they need to separate you and your child (a violation of their own rules)to search the child? This is the question I would want the answer too. And can they be 100% sure that nothing happened to your child while in the TSA’s custody, care and control? Where is the accountability for TSA’s own rules and actions?
i’m not a parent or anything – just a dude in his late 20′s. but man, reading your account of what happened made me so mad. i hate how some figures of authority are just soo extremely unhelpful and stubborn. if i was there i would’ve totally helped you out – not sure what i would’ve/could’ve done, but i would’ve been inclined to do something. some people are just bullshit.
sorry you had to go through that, but glad that it’s over.
That is nuts. I really hope you pursue this legally.
Dramatic much? Holy hell, woman.
unbelieveably insane. i cannot believe that a mother and a child had to go through that.
my husband is an airline pilot and i have seen him refuse to leave belongings … and they listen. but when you have a badge and some amount of authority … you can do that. as a woman passing through security … you rarely know what rights you do have … and you tend to succumb to whomever appears to have the authority.
that is absolutely crazy that you had to go through that … and i’m so very sorry. good for you for standing up now and making your voice heard. no one should ever have to do that again. please let me know if there is anything i can do to help.
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I’m so sorry that happened. I hope you can sue or something. I’m pretty sure I would’ve assaulted someone over this. If there is anyone we can contact to express our outrage, just as other moms, please let me know.
This was absolutely horrifying to read, I cannot ever imagine living through it. I’m so sorry you went through such a harrowing experience. I hope that you follow up and involve the proper authorities. This simply can not be allowed to continue. They need to be held accountable to follow their own rules.
Holy shit. What a horrific experience. For you and for Magoo. I understand the panic so, so well and I think you should be proud of yourself Nic. You did great. As for TSA? Your staff really fucked up. This is beyond not cool.
J,
I didn’t say these things don’t happen. I said based on the description of her behavior IN REACTION, I’m surprised she was let on the airplane, much less not arrested.
That’s why I called the entire account into question.
Also, a child having a meltdown in airport security is much different than an adult having a meltdown. Her freaking out would only raise suspicions, which clearly, it did.
I would have told that scum to adjust her attitude. You are a government employee and I pay your salary, scum.
Yeah, too bad the TSA is still going to continue doing stuff like this until the end of time. I wish there was something anyone could do about it, but it’s apparently too late. No amount of complaining seems to have any impact.
Nic,
I must say you have handled this better than I would have. I would have punched someone and ran looking for my kid. I am so sorry this happened to you. I agree, you should alert the local news media. This will get national attention, I believe. How I have seen it work is the National Media picks up a local media story and runs with it. Email and call. Get the word out. This must break a Federal Law and no parent should have to go through what you just did. Hugs, dear lady. Go get them! *Pats you on the back*
I am grouchy with certain people in here right now. I’d love let it go.
But I can’t.
To all the haters: an 18 month old child is not a SUSPECT. He is a baby. A tiny precious little boy. He still has ringlets. And baby rolls. He wears diapers. He is not a suspect and not a terrorist, he is a little boy named Jackson. He is still a baby.
Think how you would feel if it were your son, before you tell my friend she is horrible. Think about the pacifier your child has. Think about the clip it’s attached to. This happened because of a PACIFIER clip. Pacifier people, something used by babies and toddlers.
TSA specifically states they will not, can not take a child out of view of it’s mother. Jackson’s mother couldn’t see him. They took him out of her view. Also for those of you who are here just for this, Nicole has a screwed up knee. She tore ligaments two weeks ago. It’s not like she could have easily ran after them. They took her son and she couldn’t get too him. Please think before you judge.
Why would you ever ever ever let someone take your kid? Wow.
I am so sorry this happend to you and magoo.
I am so sorry. Emailing you now.
If your anxiety is that bad, perhaps you shouldn’t be flying alone.
While it’s possible the situation wasn’t handled correctly, you overreacted so badly in your post it’s hard to tell what really happened and what your distorted mind remembers.
I wouldn’t have allowed you past the security screen. You were irrational, argumentative, emotional, and not fit for flying.
Try taking the Xanax before you leave next time. Better yet, just stay in your house.
This is not ok! I really hope something comes from this. Flying should be an enjoyable experience and TSA should just be kind of annoying and not cause torment like this!
Your mistake started when you “let” them take your son. You should have never given him up or left his side. Oh, and your language? Not surprising thebway you were treated. No lady should ever speak like that. I’ll give you a little sympathy. Just a litte. Also, you need to allow yourself ample time to make your flights. The airlines reccomend that you arrive at least two hours before departure. There’s a lesson here. Hope you have learned it.
No one’s saying that the kid was a threat. But just that this is a supreme overreaction, the overreaction which likely scared the kid than being out of his mother’s arms for fewer than 10 minutes.
i have to tell you that i hadn’t read this until i saw the story in another forum. i have access to a work related website that includes an area for chatting. someone posted the story on that chat room. and their response? reinforces why i hate some of those people. you were completely in the right to freak out. i don’t have kids, but i am pretty sure that anyone in your position would behave the same way. take whatever action you need to to satisfy yourself and to make this right. you have many people behind you.
A whore
I’m sorry that you had to go through something like this. My jaw dropped at the headline and I didn’t realize my mouth was hanging open until I was almost done reading the story. What they did is unacceptable under any circumstance.
Someone above mentioned that we need to get the head of the TSA’s address. The Acting Administrator is Gale D. Rossides. I couldn’t find a home address (which I suppose is both good and bad – bad because letters at her home would really make an impact, good because it not being posted keeps nutjobs from going and harassing her at her home).
I did find an address for her through the TSA:
Gale D. Rossides
Acting Administrator, Transportation Security Administration
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
601 S. 12th St.
Arlington, VA 22202
We also might want to send a few to this address:
Secretary Janet Napolitano
Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20528
Let the flow of angry letters commence.
I feel like in a time when we are suppose to rely and hope that these TSA agents are protecting our well being, that atrocities like this go unnoticed and unpunished. First of all, they should have been WAY more helpful nice and understanding. They shouldn’t think that walking away with someone’s child is OK. It’s NOT. I do hope you alert the proper individuals, hell alert the media, This is not right and should NOT happen again.
absolutely unacceptable. they had every right to search the baby, but no right, NONE to remove him from your sight.
That is so HORRIBLE and so TYPICAL! I went through all your emotions while reading this… I physically felt your anxiety attack (I get them often, especially in movie theaters when people kick my seat, or when I run into chauvanist men).
I hope this blog post makes a difference. They were completely in the wrong… they forgot that you were a human being. Jackasses.
This is awful. I’d be a total mess if anyone took my baby away from me. I’ve seen that claim on the TSA sight saying they’ll NEVER take your child out of sight. I’ve RT this post, and shared it on Facebook. This is total bullshit.
oh my gosh, how horrid! I have a 2 1/2 year old and flew twice with him when he was so little he couldn’t talk, I can’t even imagine.
I found you from a tweet and I SERIOUSLY hope that a news station or something picks this up because NO ONE should ever have their baby taken away from them. Obviously the TSA agents there need some major training and/or to be removed from their jobs. I’m so sorry you had to go through this!
So this gets blogged and tweeted about and you’re all omg, omg. Anyone ever realized how many thousands of mothers’ children have been and are being murdered in Iraq and Afghanistan, in the name of securing the “interests” – note it’s the strategic interests that need securing, not the people – of this country whose policies by the way are the root cause of most conflicts around the world today. So yeah, go ahead call the news teams and get the TSA to apologize. Sure, it’ll solve all the problems… stay asleep, people… Sweet dreams…
I just sent the TSA an angry letter, myself. This should never, ever happen and I’m deeply offended that it did.