Complaints Of Groping At Airports
Dozens of female travelers have filed complaints with the Federal Aviation Administration and state officials, claiming that male airport security screeners groped them under the guise of random body searches.
The complaints include 18 filed with the FAA by women who claimed they were singled out for pat-down searches when they were traveling alone, then groped or fondled by male agents, according to spokesman Jerry Snyder.
At least 35 women have contacted Arizona Attorney General Janet Napolitano about being improperly touched during pat-down searches, spokeswoman Pati Urias said, although none has filed a criminal complaint.
The complaints were made from Oct. 11 to Jan. 31. Security measures at airports have been tightened, and the use of random body searches increased since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Current policy allows female passengers to request female screeners, but no federal law requires airlines to provide an employee of the same sex to conduct searches.
The complaints are being forwarded to the airlines, which are responsible for disciplinary decisions, Snyder said. He did not identify the airlines involved in the complaints, nor give further detail on the alleged incidents.
But Sharon Schmidt, of Placerville, Calif., says an America West security worker whisked her to a closed-off area as part of an airport screening, then smirked as he put his hands inside her sweater and slid them up her torso.
"I am appalled, infuriated and disgusted that the FAA has given airlines their approval to randomly violate my civil liberties," she said.
The airline said it interviewed three male gate staff agents who may have witnessed the Jan. 21 search.
"No one could recall this particular passenger, but all denied ever singling out women for search; continuing to search any male or female passenger who refused a search; or touching women inappropriately during the search process," America West general counsel Linda Mitchell wrote in a letter Thursday.
The three men were nevertheless "counseled on the use of tact and professionalism," and the same message was reiterated to all gate agents, Mitchell wrote.
Nobody has been disciplined as a result of Schmidt's complaint, she wrote.
Passengers of Alaska and United Airlines also contacted the attorney general's office about being groped during searches, Napolitano said. An Alaska Airlines official would not comment on any complaints, and United did not return calls Thursday.
By ANANDA SHOREY
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