Airport staff are known to be not very kind to luggage, as if that isn’t evident already, with the dozens of horror stories posted on the internet regularly. Still, it’s always a shocker to see it in action: workers carelessly chucking around or dropping people’s precious things like they’re playing sports. That is why one Redditor decided their recording of “TSA opening every unlocked bag on the tarmac at MCO” in Florida to be worthy of r/mildlyinfuriating.
“I mean this is exactly why I make sure I lock my bag. I know they have a key but here’s to them not using it,” remarks a commenter. However, even if passengers carefully lock their bags, that doesn’t mean the contents will be carefully transported. Airport staff need to work fast and efficiently anyhow; they couldn’t care less if luggage is mishandled. Not to mention, there are instances in which security might even break open the lock just to check inside.
Regarding airport staff, one commenter noted that they strongly believe the people in the Reddit post are not TSA. “Those are Customs and Border Protection officers, likely using their border search authority,” the user explained. What gives them away is the color of their uniform and the fact that they’re armed. Of course, whether or not that still gives them the right to go through people’s items is still very questionable.
OP clarified that the plane and staff they were filming were connected to a flight from Puerto Rico. One commenter quickly noted that the video doesn’t clearly show the workers opening the bags, but the poster assures them, “The 2 guys on the ground were actually opening them…” They further detailed how they travel quite a lot for their job, but this was the first time they spotted airport staff rummaging through passengers’ luggage.
