Tammy Banovac, Protesting TSA Pat-Downs, Confronts Airport Security in Bra and Panties

By: Caroline Black
Topics: Daily Blotter

Oklahoma Woman Tammy Banovac Tries to Go Through Airport Security in Bra and Panties, Gets Sent Home

Tammy Banovac (YouTube)

OKLAHOMA CITY (CBS/KWTV) Tammy Banovac is obviously one airline passenger who doesn't believe in flying under the radar.

The Oklahoma City woman, a retired surgeon who uses a wheelchair, tried to clear security at the Will Rogers World Airport Tuesday wearing just a bra and panties - all the while, clutching a small, white pooch.

People noticed.

According to The Oklahoman, the 52-year-old Banovac arrived at the airport wearing a trenchcoat, but disrobed when it came time to go through security - an incident captured by a fellow flier and posted on YouTube.

Banovac chose the more than half-naked approach because she claims she had previously had an unpleasant "hands-on" experience at the airport, reported The Oklahoman.

She says that typically she is hand-searched because she uses a wheelchair; however, she feels violated due to the more invasive searches that have recently been employed.

"If it happened anywhere else, it would have been sexual assault," Banovac told the newspaper.

Airport spokeswoman Karen Carney told CBS affiliate KWTV that on Tuesday Banovac refused to go through the metal detector after she had stripped down on her own, and that's why she was once again subjected to a search that included the pat-down.

When TSA agents investigated, they say they found traces of nitrate residue on her body, which Carney said could be from medication, or from hunting, among other fairly common things.

After more than an hour of hand searches and questioning, Banovac missed her flight to Phoenix.

She said a TSA supervisor told her to leave the airport and "come back tomorrow," according to The Oklahoman.

Then early Wednesday morning, an unabashed Banovac did indeed return to the airport, where she once again confronted security in only a bra and panties. However, this time she passed the TSA test, and was allowed to board her flight - after putting on a shirt, that is.

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by DetroitMsSophia December 25, 2011 10:00 AM EST: Well Tammy, now you have demonstrated the frustration that Muslim Women go through at the airport. Brilliant Approach! Perhaps, there need to be MORE WOMEN TSA SUPERVISORS OR MORE RESPECT FOR "ALL WOMEN"!!!; Reply to this comment


by Dgunner December 25, 2011 4:11 AM EST: Nice looking lady from what I could see in the picture.The person whos lap she was sitting in looked nice too.; Reply to this comment


by Cynical_Politician December 24, 2011 8:10 PM EST: This woman just wanted to be seen that way. Then again, why can't more citizens just take their clothes off when they need to cope with all the laws we are passing.

Usually when they come to my office, they remove their clothing before I pass a law, not afterwards....but then again, some politicians get the best of both worlds!

I bet if there was a fat ugly man sporting his thong, TSA would consider just waiving the pat downs. Where is Ted Kennedy when you need him?; Reply to this comment

by CBS_CEO December 24, 2011 4:45 PM EST

This story is over a year old and the TSA still sucks!

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by redbarron73 December 24, 2011 6:39 PM EST: It is rather odd that this story is from Dec.1,2010.


by rwsmith29456 December 24, 2011 3:09 PM EST: She has done this before. I think she's an exhibitionist, which is not always a bad thing.; Reply to this comment


by smittyc December 24, 2011 11:18 AM EST: One of the airlines just declared bankruptcy. Just avoid flying whenever you can till TSA gets their act together. I have found driving is much more pleasant, you can stop, get something to eat, and the countryside at ground level is quite enjoyable. I have also found it is not all the airports that have issues, avoid the ones where behavior like this lady is protesting exist.; Reply to this comment

by lazeroo7 December 24, 2011 10:52 AM EST

all i can say is baby your hot..and thay need to leve you alone :)

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by redbarron73 December 24, 2011 6:31 PM EST: OK, lazeroo, pay attention.
All I can say is, "Baby, you're hot!" They need to leave you alone. :-)

You must have flunked grammar.

by AwareObserver December 24, 2011 10:30 AM EST

This stunt was badly handled by the TSA. The smarter strategy would have been to remain calm, wheel her through, and conduct the search as if all was normal. I travel by air 2 to 3 times a month. I have metal prosteheses so know I need to arrive in time for screening. I've been treated rudely just once in perhaps 80 flights this year. But, in the interest of time and my fellow travelers, I made no scenes. The fewer scenes the better. Complain formally to Homeland Security and your congressional representative if you must.

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by bearfoot33 December 24, 2011 10:50 AM EST: baaa baaa baaa


by bounce-cbsnews December 16, 2010 1:16 AM EST: If you have a state issued CCW permit I see no reson not to allow a person to carry a concealed wepon. It has been shown 1. a round through the hull will cause very little damage and not have the side of the plain blow out and this was proven when sky marchials were put on aircraft.. 2. it has peen proven if a bad guy does not know how nany wepons are on the plane or in a store on the ground the chance of an attach decrease. This was a study performed after states started the CCW program of CCW holders. As long as it is concealed to keep the bad guys guessing it has been shown to reduce crime. 1 sky martial and 4 or more bad guys verses an unknown number of other people carring known only to the crew of the aircraft and the sky martial sure tends to even the sides.; Reply to this comment


by bounce-cbsnews December 16, 2010 12:58 AM EST: It has been shown that people with state issued CCW permits and keep their sidearm hidden as long as it is declaired to TAS I see no reson not to allow a person to carrey on an aircraft. it has been proven if there are a numerious hidden wepon carreries on board the chance of a hyjack will go down as the bad guys doe not want to get shot. and even if a round penatrates the skin from the inside the chance of a failer of the aircraft is slim as there has been tests of this when air martials started to carry along with trained Pilots in the cockpit.; Reply to this comment