Video: Airport security spills ashes of passenger's grandfather all over floor

Updated
Video: Airport security spills ashes of passenger's grandfather all over floor
Video: Airport security spills ashes of passenger's grandfather all over floor

ABC News


A passenger was left furious after a TSA security officer spilled the ashes of his grandfather on the terminal floor.

John Gross was attempting to take his grandfather's ashes home to Indianapolis when the incident occurred at a Florida airport.

He was carrying the small, sealed jar marked "human remains" through security when, he says, a TSA agent opened it.

Video: Airport security spills ashes of passenger's grandfather all over floor
Video: Airport security spills ashes of passenger's grandfather all over floor

ABC News



According to the The Indy Channel, Gross told RTV6's Norman Cox: "They opened up my bag, and I told them, 'Please, be careful. These are my grandpa's ashes.' 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."

He said about a quarter to a third of the jar's contents spilled on the floor, adding: "She didn't apologise. 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."

Video: Airport security spills ashes of passenger's grandfather all over floor
Video: Airport security spills ashes of passenger's grandfather all over floor

ABC News


TSA rules state that a crematory container in carry-on luggage must pass through an X-ray machine, but that human remains are to be opened "under no circumstances".

According to the Huffington Post, the TSA told Local 6 Orlando in a statement that "TSA recognises the importance of treating human remains with respect and dignity...Under TSA policy, under no circumstance would the container holding the remains be opened. We are looking further into this complaint."

Mr Gross told The Indy Channel: "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."

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