'What do you think she's going to do?': TSA comes under fire for 'prolonged and repetitive' pat down of a 96-year-old woman in a wheelchair
Daily MailReporter
A video of a 96-year-old woman being forced to endure a 'prolonged and repetitive' pat-down by airport security in Virginia has gone viral - and left many questioning why such behavior was necessary in the first place.
Jeanne LaBrier Clarkson posted a six minute video of her mother at Washington Dulles International Airport on May 15.
'The 3 of us were all in wheelchairs. Only my 96-year-old mother was subjected to this prolonged, repetitive search,' Clarkson said in the video that has been viewed just under 9 million times.
Jeanne LaBrier Clarkson posted a six minute video of her mother at Washington Dulles International Airport on May 15
Clarkson shared that she, her fiancé and mother Evelyn LaBrier had been traveling to Anderson, Indiana, after visiting her son in Maryland.
TSA screeners stopped the group and politely explained that they needed to pat down LaBrier's chest and pelvis region, the woman added.
Clarkson began filming the ordeal, but soon another TSA stepped in front of her cell phone camera and blocked her view.
She added: 'It was just like, how can they get away with this?'
In the video, a woman can be heard voicing her concerns with the search and asks 'What the hell do you think she's going to do? Set off a shoe bomb?'
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Clarkson shared that she, her fiancé and mother Evelyn LaBrier (pictured) had been traveling to Anderson, Indiana, after visiting her son in Maryland
Jeanne LaBrier Clarkson (right) posted this picture, taken at the airport, of her mother (left)
'I was just shocked. I've traveled with her before, I've been in a wheelchair myself unable to walk through the machines and I've never had that kind of a pat-down ever. I was just shocked. I couldn't believe they were doing this to my 96-year-old mother,' Jeanne Clarkson explained to CBS News.
'It was just shock, and frustration because they would not talk to me. I felt helpless.'
The airport took to Facebook to share its own thoughts and said: 'Many of you have reached out to us to express concern over a video of a security screening taking place at Dulles International Airport.
'Security screening at our checkpoints is directed and conducted by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). We have shared customer comments with the TSA for their immediate review and appropriate action.'
'The 3 of us were all in wheelchairs. Only my 96-year-old mother was subjected to this prolonged, repetitive search,' Clarkson said on Facebook
TSA sent a statement to CBS News adding that 'TSA is committed to ensuring the security of travelers, while treating all passengers with dignity and respect. In this instance, the TSA officer provided advisements during the pat-down and was extremely polite.
'The passenger was very cooperative and gave no indication that she was agitated or in discomfort. She received a pat-down and was cleared for her flight.'
They also cited a video explaining how flyers in wheelchairs should be patted down, but that was only a 15 second-long routine.
'She didn't know what to say. She does not want to fly again ever. She didn't know what they were looking for. She was scared,' Clarkson said of LaBrier.
'She was just following directions. She said she didn't know what to do.'
Clarkson shared that in addition to the security chaos, their flight to Indianapolis was cancelled.
She stated that TSA didn't reach out to the family.
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