TSA agent escorts dying woman through Sea-Tac for trip home
»Play Video
SEATTLE -- Tears flowed Wednesday as Michelle Dunaj made what she says is her final walk through Sea-Tac Airport.
She's dying of leukemia, and headed home to Michigan after saying her last goodbyes to family in Pierce County.
"It's sad," she said. "I mean, nobody thinks they are going to die at 34 or that their life is going to be short."
Dunaj says she was humiliated during a TSA security screening at Sea-Tac last week on her way to a trip to Hawaii.
Dunaj said screeners at Sea-Tac Airport made her pull up her shirt to check under bandages from recent surgeries, and refused to give her a private search when she requested one. A machine couldn't get a reading on her saline bags, she said, so a TSA agent forced one open, contaminating the fluid she needs to survive.
But the agency says that's not what happened.
"At no point did a TSA officer open the passenger's medically necessary liquids and the passenger was never asked to remove or pull off any bandages," the TSA said in a statement. "After reviewing video from the security checkpoint, we have determined that our screening procedures were followed.
"That isn't true," said Dunaj in response to TSA's statement. "They absolutely did open up one of my saline bags. I was asked to lift up my shirt and pull back the dressing."
With other passengers staring, Dunaj said her request for privacy was denied.
"They just said that it was fine; the location we were at was fine," she said, "and I didn't feel that it was fine, because everybody was looking at me." Under TSA's policy, passengers can request a private screening with a witness present.
The TSA has so far turned down KOMO News' request to see the footage. TSA said its footage does not contain audio and therefore is inconclusive on whether Dunaj did, in fact, request a private screening.
Wednesday, a TSA agent escorted Dunaj through the security checkpoint. She was grateful, but wants to keep her embarrassment from happening to anyone else.
"I just don't want any other people who have special needs, whether it be medically or otherwise, to have to go through the same thing," she said.
She's dying of leukemia, and headed home to Michigan after saying her last goodbyes to family in Pierce County.
"It's sad," she said. "I mean, nobody thinks they are going to die at 34 or that their life is going to be short."
Dunaj says she was humiliated during a TSA security screening at Sea-Tac last week on her way to a trip to Hawaii.
Dunaj said screeners at Sea-Tac Airport made her pull up her shirt to check under bandages from recent surgeries, and refused to give her a private search when she requested one. A machine couldn't get a reading on her saline bags, she said, so a TSA agent forced one open, contaminating the fluid she needs to survive.
But the agency says that's not what happened.
"At no point did a TSA officer open the passenger's medically necessary liquids and the passenger was never asked to remove or pull off any bandages," the TSA said in a statement. "After reviewing video from the security checkpoint, we have determined that our screening procedures were followed.
"That isn't true," said Dunaj in response to TSA's statement. "They absolutely did open up one of my saline bags. I was asked to lift up my shirt and pull back the dressing."
With other passengers staring, Dunaj said her request for privacy was denied.
"They just said that it was fine; the location we were at was fine," she said, "and I didn't feel that it was fine, because everybody was looking at me." Under TSA's policy, passengers can request a private screening with a witness present.
The TSA has so far turned down KOMO News' request to see the footage. TSA said its footage does not contain audio and therefore is inconclusive on whether Dunaj did, in fact, request a private screening.
Wednesday, a TSA agent escorted Dunaj through the security checkpoint. She was grateful, but wants to keep her embarrassment from happening to anyone else.
"I just don't want any other people who have special needs, whether it be medically or otherwise, to have to go through the same thing," she said.
Translated "We know what is on the Video; this would be such bad PR for the TSA you have no idea SO we are going to wag the dog a little and escort her through the airport, Look at us, Look at us, Were being Nice, your slowly forgetting about how we abused this woman, were being nice, were being nice ....... "
Michelle, this is too soon for you. I hope for peace and strength for you. Hugs.
Hey people keep saying they want government to do more for them, this is what happens when you make the government do your job.
 @Blindman No, we need TSA to perform security checks for us, just humanly...maybe people that need additional services can make reservations, which is practically what TSA suggests with their 72 hour notice of special services...but then folks could be told to report to a specific, more private location.
If we are publicly filmed by TSA and the police, shouldn't that video footage be public?
Â
If we are a nation of the people, for the people, and by the people, shouldn't we have access to our own videos?
Â
These are of course rhetorical questions. See George Orwell's "The Animal Farm" for clarification.
 @Bellevue Scott It IS public, but they are dragging their feet.  They will be forced to comply through the Freedom of Information Act, but that takes time.  I was a Federal employee my whole career and those FOIA requests use up a lot of man hours.  They could avoid wasting more of your tax dollars by just handing over the video. Maybe they're hoping that by the time the FOIA requests are complied with, lots of people may have moved on and forgotten about this. Â
Well, if they refuse to release the video, it's likely because someone screwed up in TSA.
i don't believe she had any ulterior motives - other than to bring to light the not so professional attitude of TSA. saw a youtube video recently of a mom who asked that her bottled breast milk not be x-rayed which apparently allowed as it falls under the definition of medical liquids. don't recall what city. she argued the point, was made to stand in the glass "cube of shame" for over 30 minutes. she missed her flight. despite showing a spvr. their own rules he still said either let it be x-rayed or dump it out. apparently she had been "targeted" as she had had the same problem in the recent past and the agents recognized her. Michelle - my prayers are with you. Â
Michelle didn't seek out the press, they sought out her after some discussion on the topic was brought to the attention of KOMO 4 representatives on a common internet forum Michelles friends use. Michelle agreed to the interview, one to point out that TSA training and treatment of people needs to improve, and two to rebut TSA's claim that sterile medicines and bandages were not opened. Michelle requested TSA assistance on her return flight, partly as compliance to TSA requirement to notify them 72 hours in advance for special needs, and to ensure things went smoothly. Hopefully their time together was well spent. Now Michelle would like the focus to shift from her to the screening process, which is the real subject of the matter.
Â
Â
so not only did they humiliate this woman but they are essentially calling her a liar. nice. then they parade around with her and use her as a PR ploy. what a crap agency.
Â
yay Homeland Security.
They deny molesting her but won't release the checkpoint video since it would prove her side of the story.
Now they escort her through security so it doesn't blow up in their faces again.
These are clearly the actions of a guilty agency hoping to that this will blow over, which is their usual course of action.
TSA is a sick and irresponsible agency comprised of misfits, thieves and pedophiles who pathologically lie about every incident that reveals their abuses and worthlessness .
They need to dig up the video, and if the screener did indeed make this woman bare and then peel back her dressing, then charge that screener outright with practicing medicine without a license! That seems to be what is needed to get these TSA thugs that understand that they ARE NOT DOCTORS and MUST NOT MESS WITH REAL MEDICAL DEVICES OR PROCESSES.
 @JLS1950 They won't release the video because they know it will prove her story. TSA always lies.
This chick pulled up her shirt to show the whole world on tv and the internet the other day. She couldn't have been that embarassed.
 @bagsofdirt I disagree and would like to point out that we do not know how far those bandages go up or how far they had her lift up her shirt. I noticed that her feeding tubes were at the top of her shirt in one video so they might have had her pull it up further.
Â
Not to mention there is a huge difference between having your shirt pulled up in an extremely busy airport and showing the amount of midriff you're comfortable with in front of a camera crew.
@bagsofdirt You can't see the difference between the two? Really?
 @Coffey  @bagsofdirt Some people have no mental capacity at all yet are still capable capable of making stupid statements.
I hope the KOMO people are watching my post and read what I'm saying.Just last Thursday me and my wife left SEATAC heading to California.What the both of saw was Flight attendants  with Starbuck Coffee walk through TSA security with just a hand wave and no check of ID or the liquid drinks being inspected.What is this double standard set on us the people when we see so called honest Flight attendants walk right through.So what if they have back ground checks on them. Who is not to say one of them could be a terrorist waiting for the right time. This double standard must stop. What the TSA did to this Woman is shameful. If the TSA is going to check all people, than it should include all flight attendants and pilots.This is Government run a muckÂ
TSA: How 'bout you PUT up or SHUT up regarding what YOU say what happened.
You have video. Release it then.
If not to the general public...then at least to the police agency where they can look at it...very objectively, and then make a public statement on EXACTLY what happened!
Â
What's that??? Oh...you don't want to. Oh...you don't have to.
Â
Like I said in my first statement..Put up or.................................
Oh say it isnât so, could they actually have read the previous comments and actually gave a $#!t? Sorry I sort of wandered off into a dream world there for a second. I am glad that something was done for her, what ever the reason. Have a safe journey Michelle, God bless you.Â
she is lying
 @mike sorlie Riiight.. because that's what dying people do... want the spotlight and make up stories before they depart this life.
Â
Idiot.You're probably the TSA agent she's speaking of.
 @Poisonous Giraffe  @mike sorlie Just another TSA troll paid to make stupid comments like this by TSA using taxpayer money.
That TSA executive didn't do her any favors by trying to act like she cares. I'm sure Michelle just wanted her to go away and leave her alone. Too late to save face, TSA.
The supervisors at TSA could not even supervise a Burger King Restaurant. Â They are too dumb to be a shift manager. Â
I had a similar experience two years ago, but mine was not a life or death situation. I was at the John Wayne Airport. in California.  Before going to the airport, I had banaged a large blister on my heel which developed after 5 days of walking around Disneyland. It was seeping and since I was wearing Keen shoes, I wanted to make sure it was coverwith with gauze and put some cotton padding as it was on the edge of my heel. l Being summer I didn't have any socks with me.  I very carefully took off my shoes to go through security and walked on my toes, as not to desturb the bandage or get it dirty.  The TSA screener pulled me over and said she had to inspect my bandage. She did not change gloves. She proceeded to pull off all the tape, the guaze, and cotton then walked away leaving me to attempt to put it back on as I had no more tape. It took me a several minutes to try and get it back on and get the shoe back on as the strap across the heel is not easy to slide over the bandage which caused it to rub the blister.  I am in my seventies and had a wheelchair taking me through screening. I was attempting to keep my heel from becoming infected and also trying to pad it somewhat for the trip home. Why was the woman refused a private screening. They are trying to cover their butts. I wonder how many other people have had this type of experience.
 @quiltlady According to Congerssional reports at least 250,000 a year. TSA claims it's only 60,000 because the other complaints aren't filled out properly. They feel they can violate procedures but the victim must get the paperwork right or it doesn't count. TSA needs to go and these idiots should be prosecuted.
"At no point did a TSA officer open the passenger's medically necessary liquids and the passenger was never asked to remove or pull off any bandages," the TSA said in a statement. "After reviewing video from the security checkpoint, we have determined that our screening procedures were followed.
Â
And now they say: The TSA has so far turned down KOMO News' request to see the footage. TSA said its footage does not contain audio and therefore is inconclusive on whether Dunaj did, in fact, request a private screening.
Â
The TSA is a corrupt and inept organization that needs to go.
@alwaysbusy you know what gets to me, who cares if they don't have audio, people do know how to read lips. Give up the video TSA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 @greywolfdtr01  @alwaysbusy I never thought of that, you're right! And I agree, show us the video! Unless they have something to hide?
How did we allow this to happen in our country? As a child of the 50âs and 60âs we were taught the Russians and East Germans were our enemy. The commies in china and Cuba were despicable because the way they treated their people.
Â
We here in America had freedoms those people in communist countries could only dream of. This had to be true because we were always having the Russians are coming as we cowered under our desk or in the schoolâs fallout shelter located in the basement.
Â
I remember vividly our teacher sharing lessons about how Cuba had government block watchers who would record the license plates of each car that came down the street.
Â
In Russia and other communist countries of Europe, their people needed travel permits and papers they were checked by the military.
Â
TSA how dare you withhold this video. Show us the video!
 @Harrison What's happened is that we've let two parties take over the country. It's kinda like inbreeding.Â
Â
At least they aren't carrying machine guns yet...are they?
tsa is pure evil; hands down.
Show the video TSA, what the heck do you have to hide? Â Sorry about your situation MIchelle. Â I hope you find some comfort in the time you have. Â Â
Godspeed, dear lady, may your journey be gentle and peaceful.
 @Doxie Your words brought tears to my eyes, for someone who has such a short time to live, I hope despite it all she finds the rest of her days happy. Go with G-d Michelle, today and everyday.
This comment has been deleted
 @toggafasimarhcs So now in addition, you actually give a crap about someone else's score, use homophobic slurs, and have the nerve to say that someone else needs to get a life off the KOMO boards. Think it's time you discover the mirror!
 @toggafasimarhcs Pathetic? That coming from you who just proved you have no heart? And no sense trying to reply back, since I'm sure by the next time you try to post because of your nasty comments, you will be banned! Bu-bye!
if the Obama administration won't tell the truth about 4 dead in Libya ,what makes you think they are telling the truth about this lady.
I feel bad for this woman, ofcouse the TSA will denie all alligations, who would admit to those, I believe this woman and im glad her return trip is going better then it was for her to get here, I feel bad for herÂ
Are there any other passengers that witnessed this bad treatment by TSA? If so, then how about they come forward to confirm this woman's claim of how TSA treated her.
This comment has been deleted
 @Agent43 You must be a TSA agent.
@Agent43 Wow, what great compassion you are showing to this poor woman! I'm glad to know that in this cold, post 9-11 world of scare tactics, there are people like you who will support the weak, sick and disabled in their quest for dignity!
Â
//offsarcasm.
This should be the NORMAL behavior and not newsworthy behavior. Â TSA sucks the big weenie.
Ms. Dunaj. Have a safe and peaceful journey. May you not suffer too much.