TSA Inspector Damages 9 Planes At O'Hare

[laylow]

http://www.pointniner.com/2008/08/tsa-inspector-damages-9-planes-at-ohare.html

[goowe]

I read about that yesterday as well... pretty insane!

The article I read, from CNN, said they found no damage on any of the planes.

"Huguely said the airline's own inspectors checked out all of the aircraft, did not find any damage, and put them back in service by 10:45 a.m. Tuesday. She said the airline is in touch with the TSA 'and we are working through this issue with them.'"

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TRAVEL/08/20/grounded.jets/index.html

Joe

[SweedChef]

This reaks of The Onion.....hard to believe it's true. 

[KSYR-pjr]

Saw some pictures of the damage.  Broken external instrument probes that goofball TSA agents had used as steps to climb up the outside of the aircraft.  Pathetic.

[goowe]

Wow 

[cessna157]

There's quite a heated discussion about this on APC forums.  Apparently this brilliant TSA inspector thought the TAT probes looked like wonderful steps to climb on the airplane.  I guess the "No Step" placards all over the side of the aircraft are like telling a 4 year old "Don't touch the cookie jar on the counter"

From what it sounds like, there were 9 Embraers damaged which caused the cancellation/delays of over 40 flights while Eagle repaired/inspected the damage.  And, just for the trouble it has caused them, the TSA is issuing Eagle a fine for security violations.

TSA is getting out of hand rapidly.  Daily they give pilots a hard time in security lines to make extra sure that we don't bring anything sharp onto the airplane (nevermind the big decapitating axe that sits 18 inches behind me, plus the 84,000lbs of aluminum, titanium, and jet fuel I have at my finger tips).

[Switch Monkey]

Leave the planes powered up with the pitot heat on

[vicecitydriver]

This was a ridiculous idea on the part of the TSA inspector. It's hard to believe that government officials would even think about using delicate sensors as a ladder. I can see that our tax dollars are being spent on EXCELLENT training for the TSA guys... (dripping with sarcasm)