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Orlando TSA Agent Accused of Spilling Human Ashes on Floor, Laughing at Dead Man's Grandson

Indianapolis man John Gross says he's the victim of yet another poorly trained TSA agent using made-up screening procedures -- this time, on his dead grandfather.He was flying out of the Orlando airport with the ashes of his grandfather, Mario Mark Marcaletti, he says, when a TSA agent open his...
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Indianapolis man John Gross says he's the victim of yet another poorly trained TSA agent using made-up screening procedures -- this time, on his dead grandfather.

He was flying out of the Orlando airport with the ashes of his grandfather, Mario Mark Marcaletti, he says, when a TSA agent open his bag, took the top off of the ashes and began going through them with her finger despite official TSA procedure calling for human remains to be opened under "no circumstances," according to Indianapolis Channel 6.

Then, she spilled them.


"She didn't apologize," Gross told the TV station. "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... 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."

The TSA is investigating, according to the Orlando Sentinel, though a spokeswoman told them "our initial review concluded that the circumstances as described in some reports are inconsistent with what we believe transpired." No kidding! TSA agents didn't include "and then we laughed at the poor slob and his dead grandfather" in their report?

"I didn't want to cause a scene because I didn't want them to throw me off my flight or put me on the no-fly list," Gross told the Sentinel. "My grandpa I'm sure is up there in heaven laughing about this. I'm wondering who stepped in his ashes and where they are now. Maybe a little bit made it to Cubs' stadium."


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