A Transportation Security Administration agent is being accused of spilling someone's grandfather's ashes after opening the jar.
According to RTV6, John Gross was traveling from Orlando, Florida to Indiana with his grandpa's cremated remains. He had the ashes in a tightly sealed jar that was labeled "Human Remains."
Even though the canister was marked, the TSA agent decided to open the jar and inspect it at a security checkpoint.
Gross told RTV6 about the incident and what happened next.
"They opened up my bag, and I told them, 'Please, be careful. These are my grandpa's ashes,'" Gross told RTV6. "She picked up the jar. She opened it up."
"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. So she opened it up. She used her finger and was sifting through it. And then she accidentally spilled it."
According to Gross, the agent spilled a quarter to a third of the ashes on the floor. Gross frantically tried to pick up what he could as other passengers waited behind him.
"She didn't apologize. She started laughing. I was on my hands and knees picking up bone fragments. I couldn't pick up all, everything that was lost. I mean, there was a long line behind me."
According to the TSA website, agents are never allowed to open cremation containers, yet the agent broke this policy.
"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," the policy reads.
Gross is hoping he gets an apology.
"I want an apology,""said Gross. ""I want an apology from TSA. 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."
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
