TSA Screws Up, Spills Man's Remains

It's been a rough time for the TSA. First, some security workers were fired in a bribery scandal. Then, they mistakenly unplug the metal detectors at security stations and cause massive delays. Now, in another blunder, TSA workers spilled a man's remains on the airport floor.

The ashes were the remains of Mario Mark Marcaletti, according to the RTV6 website. Marcaletti immegrated to the United States from Sicily, and worked in central Indiana for the Penn Central Railroad.

John Gross, Marcaletti's grandson, was at the Orlando International Airport with his the remains to catch a flight home to Indianapolis. The a small, sealed jar of his grandfather's ashes was in his carry-on bag and was labled "human remains." One of the security officers opened the jar and, despite Gross's warnings to be careful, sifted through the contents. Much of them -- some where between a quarter and a third -- ended up on the floor of the terminal.

The security officer's reaction did not help the situation. "She didn't apologize," Gross said. "She started laughing. I was on my hands and knees picking up bone fragments. I couldn't pick up all, everything that was lost."

The TSA agent's actions went against the agency's policy regarding such materials. On the TSA website there's a page for transporting the deceased, and under the section of "Traveling with Crematory Remains," it says, "Passengers are allowed to carry a crematory container as part of their carry-on luggage, but the container must pass through the X-ray machine. 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 be done."

Gross was unaware of this. I was told later on that she had no right to even open it, that they could have used other devices, like an X-ray machine."

According to the Huffington Post, the TSA is "looking further into this complaint."

Gross says he wants more. "I want an apology from TSA," he said. "I want an apology from the lady who opened the jar and laughed at me. I want them to help me understand where they get off treating people like this."