American Morning
Tune in at 6am Eastern for all the news you need to start your day.
November 23rd, 2010
08:40 AM ET
Cancer survivor accepts TSA apology, says agents need training
Yesterday on American Morning, bladder cancer survivor Thomas Sawyer, 61, shared his personal story of the pat down he received at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. After the pat down caused his urine bag to leak, Sawyer said he was embarrassed and humiliated.
Later in the day, TSA chief John Pistole called Sawyer personally to apologize. Sawyer accepted the apology.
Today, he joins AM again. John Roberts asks him what changes he thinks the TSA should make to be better accommodating.
About this Show
Welcome to the American Morning blog where you can get daily news updates from American Morning's reporters and producers. Join us for "the most news in the morning," weekdays from 6-9 a.m. ET, only on CNN.
"Why? Because the TSA says so? The TSA has never caught anyone trying to board a plane with an explosive. I doubt they're going to start now. And yet... terrorists get on airplanes, with explosives. Let's face it: the security checks at airports are just to make people feel better and make security companies richer."
um...@J...how do you know they've never caught anyone? Do you have a website that shows what they catch and what they don't catch? Don't you think that if someone came through successfully with explosives; the newsfeed that day would be about the tragic flight that got blown up??!! But, I guess you haven't heard any news like that for domestic flights have you?!
ps. Please don't mix up INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS COMING INTO the US with DOMESTIC FLIGHTS going out. Majority of the other incidents after 9/11 was flights that were coming INTO the states from OUTSIDE of the country. So, the TSA can't speak for the way other countries do their security; we can only see and learn from experience to prevent it from happening AGAIN in our homeland.
"When you decide to fly rather than drive you make the decision to be subjected to these serches."
Why? Because the TSA says so? The TSA has never caught anyone trying to board a plane with an explosive. I doubt they're going to start now. And yet... terrorists get on airplanes, with explosives. Let's face it: the security checks at airports are just to make people feel better and make security companies richer.
He did notify them. The agent ignored his notice. That's why this is a big deal.
@ polly pocket. This is not a violation of constitutional rights, please find me the documentation within the constitution addresses your stament in reguards to a 3rd party flight company. When you decide to fly rather than drive you make the decision to be subjected to these serches.
@ Polly Pocket,
Let me guess....your a conservative? Where were you during GWB's time? You probably didn't have a problem with all the changes after 9/11, but now you do? The TSA, however miss-guided, is only trying to make us safe from the shoe bomber and underwear bomber jerk wads out there trying to kill AMERICANS.
Polly Pocket, our founding fathers didn't have to worry about terrorists using explosives on airplanes. In this day and age, unfortunately there is a need for body scanning and/or pat downs. We're not talking about being frisked at the grocery store. I'm sorry, but I feel more comfortable flying with the enhanced security.
Are you frickin kidding me? The problem is not that the poor man should have told the TSA about his meildical condition. That is a private issue between him and his doctor. The issue is that the TSA is violating the man's constitutional rights by doing the pat down or requiring the body scanners. Wake up America! Read the Constitution (just google it)! The founding fathers are turning over in their graves! Are we nothing more than cattle?!
I agree. Maybe there should be medical personel for just such cases.
I am an Oncology RN who is familiar with these devices and who cares for those who have them. I feel terrible for the embarrassment this man felt. I think that ANYONE with a medical condition should EXPLAIN it to the screener BEFORE they start a patdown – especially if they have an appliance attached to their body that has liquid in it that could spill. If I was asked what a urostomy bag was, I think I would clearly explain what it was, not just comment, as this man said, that 'it doesn't matter"..just go easy or pat gently – I think I would show the bag before the TSA agent got there. Perhaps all flyers with this type of problem should be directed to someone with medical knowledge.
Are you kidding me?...The 5:30 a.m. PST lead was about the royal wedding and not the attack on South Korea?...I thought you were a news organization, not the national enquirer (and yes, I know I did not capitalize certain words because I felt that they were not worthy).