Relax - TSA officer spills man's ashes on floor and laughs

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TSA officer spills man's ashes on floor and laughs

AsiaOne | Wed, Jun 27 2012

The passenger said the airport security agent did not apologise.

TSA officer spills man's ashes on floor and laughs

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A man suffered distress and humiliation when the ashes of his grandfather was scattered all over the floor when an airport security agent insisted on opening the jar and ended up spilling it accidentally.

John Gross was at Orlando International Airport on June 19 when the incident took place. He was on his way home to Indianapolis, US, on an United Express flight.

His carry-on bag had passed through the X-ray machine but was told to turn around for a bag check.

The TSA offficer apparently insisted on opening the glass jar containing the remains of Gross' grandfather, which was labelled 'Human Remains'.

The female officer stuck her finger into the jar and sifted through it. Then, she accidentally spilled it.

What was worse, she stood and laughed at Gross as he went down on his knees to pick up the ashes. He tried to reach for all the bigger pieces of remains, but there was no way of collecting everything without a broom and dustpan, he said.

He added that the queue behind him was held up because of that.

According to Gross, she did not apologise for what happened either.

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On TSA's website, the policy regarding cremated remains stated that passengers are permitted to carry remains aboard aircraft as long as the containers undergo X-ray inspection.

"We understand how painful losing a loved one is, and we respect anyone travelling with crematory remains," states the website.

"Out of respect to the deceased and their family and friends, under no circumstances will an officer open the container even if the passenger requests this to be done."

While nothing can be done to regain the ashes, Gross wants an apology from the TSA and the officer who opened the jar and laughed at him, reported The Daily Mail.

maryanns@sph.com.sg