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FLORIDA -- A Florida woman is speaking out after she says Transportation Security Administration screeners forced her 95-year-old mother to take off her adult diaper while going through security.
It happened at the Northwest Florida Regional Airport on June 18. Jean Weber's mother was in a wheelchair, frail and has leukemia. She was traveling to Michigan to visit relatives before moving to an assisted living facility. Weber's mom had undergone a blood transfusion the previous week to build her strength for the flight.
TSA workers told Weber they felt something suspicious on her mom's leg. They took her to a private room and discovered the adult diaper.
Weber said, "It was wet and it was firm and they couldn't check it thoroughly. She would have to remove it. I said, ‘I don't have an extra one with me. Normally this isn't a problem.' She said she could not complete the security check without the Depends off."
Weber took her mom to a public restroom in the airport and removed the diaper.
Ultimately Weber says she told workers to take her mom to the boarding gate so she didn't miss the flight. Weber was still going through security.
The story has gone viral with a lot of chatter about it on Twitter Sunday.
Now the TSA has issued a statement in response:
"We have reviewed the circumstances involving the screening and determined that our officers acted professionally and according to proper procedure."
It also says workers operated in a "respectful and sensitive" manner.
Weber is saying she understands the necessity for procedures but she also feels the procedure needs to be changed.
E-mail: aadams@ksl.com
