Today, after not seeing my boyfriend for 9 months, he came to meet me at the airport. I was so excited when I first saw him that I broke into a sprint to greet him. Apparently, running through the airport looks suspicious, because a security guard tackled me. Now I have a broken nose. FML
I agree, your life sucks (37429) - you totally deserved it (4022)
On 07/19/2009 at 9:49am - misc - by Anonymous (woman) - United States (New Jersey)
Don't blame the guard. He was only doing his job.
You shouldn't do ANYTHING out of the ordinary in airports nowadays unless you're an idiot. To you something may be funny etc but the airport's personnel have to treat everything seriously.
america must be a pretty fucked place if you can't even run in an airport without being dramatically tackled to the ground... what if she was running late for a flight???
#80 - On 07/19/2009 at 11:01pm by aussie_girl
If you're female, you can probably sue; especially if you're an attractive caucasian. However, if you're not very good looking, or not white, no luck. Hey, I just point out the law, not make it.
We are not a fucked place. I just like to think we are trying to keep our citizens within the border safe after 9/11 and whatnot? It might be annoying but they're only looking out for our safety. Even as a 17 year old girl I can see that and appreciate that they at least care that much about my well being as an american citizen.
Nope, apparently as a 17 year old girl you are too naive to see what's actually going on. And that's okay, because well you're 17. What's sad is when people in their 40's and 50's who vote don't see what's going on.
Unfortunately, America is fucked up and it's going down the tubes fast. You're right though, you do need people to protect you from terrorists—the kind of terrorists who are white, wear suits, and sit on the board of multi-billion dollar corporations or in the senate...or any other politically powerful position.
If running is breaking law, I understand why obesity rise up in USA.
Watch out a new terrorism wappon is comming: FAT
to the 17 y/o girl: Yeah, ironic how that patriotism can go right down the drain when you're being detained for 6 hours saying "Let me the hell out of this room!"
#103 - On 07/20/2009 at 9:56am by chanman
Well, it's important that they do their job. After 9/11 and the recent attempt where some guy put a bomb in his underwear (I still don't see why he put it there) airport security has gone up drastically.
#122 - On 02/09/2010 at 7:10pm by 153rdTrooper
Amazing how almost nobody knows enough about airport security and terrorist threats to make an intelligent judgement, and yet everyone has an opinion. It's the same on almost every other political issue. There should be a competence test that everyone has to take before they register to vote.
Running through the airport looks romantic on movies - in real life? Not such a great idea. The security guard probably should have tried to do something nonphysical to stop you first, before tackling, though...
Yeah, agreed. Running in airports during these "terrorist" times (still makes me laugh) isn't that great, but tackling at the first sight -- not sure, he may have done the right thing if you imagine the "what if" of her actually being someone that was going to, or have done, some kind of harm.
#14 - On 07/19/2009 at 2:19pm by tinyphreak
He's saying that USA is a paranoical country because of "terrorism". Specially in airports... With only a fart they think it's a biological attack.
#69 - On 07/19/2009 at 8:22pm by fawfulster
Because, to be truthful, airports and airplanes aren't most terrorists first choice of target. For that matter, neither are churches or religious facilities. If you happened to not know, terrorists in America are mostly home grown, and the majority of them are NOT Muslim.
She didn't run through security. Her boyfriend would have to have exited the security area of the airport before she saw him.
#15 - On 07/19/2009 at 2:20pm by sadistmonkey
IF she was running toward security, then it would be reasonable to presume she was trying to run past them, and tackling was justified.
What sane person runs toward the security gate?
Where does she say she was running THROUGH or TOWARDS security? She merely states that she was running in an airport when security tackled her. Thoroughly read the OP before you comment.
You don't fly much, huh, #28? Security is nowhere near the arrivals hall. It's at the other end of the airport, at departures. What's the point in scanning someone for bombs who just got off a plane? If she saw him as soon as he came into the hall, he would have just been leaving baggage reclaim and customs. Neither of which would make a great target for a terrorist attack.
There are security guards all over. It's how they get people to pay more to be harassed and abused in the name of safety.
#66 - On 07/19/2009 at 7:44pm by pleasetryagain
Ummm actually unless you are coming from an international flight you don't have to go through customs. There is usually a different exit for those coming in internationally. Idiot!
It is never a great idea to run in public places other than parks or fields or stadiums... you just look super suspicious..
lol she wasn't trying to do "some stupid movie cliche", she was just excited to see her boyfriend. I mean, come on, they haven't seen each other in 9 months! FYL, OP!
#54 - On 07/19/2009 at 5:17pm by ComeClarity
Haha WTF it's absolutely fine to run in airports, at least a big busy airport like o'hare or something, many ppl are rushing to catch flights. What airport was this?
I was thinking the same thing. I practically sprinted all the way across the Cincinnati airport without even so much as a glance from security.
lol.. very true.. I always end up running when my connecting flight is late...maybe OP just looked suspicious? lol
Have you been living under a rock for the last decade? Security at American airports is extremely high, and they pounce on anything that can be construed as malicious behavior.
Paranoia is high. Actual security is low. Example: liquid explosives are not easier to hide, to make or to transport than solid explosives - yet water is confiscated.
Agreed.
Still.
FYL. The asshole guard could've at least paid for your medical expenses for breaking your nose.
#36 - On 07/19/2009 at 3:28pm by sakurachan04
And people run through airports all the time, especially with tight schedules where delays often happen. Maybe she was running away from security or something, though?
#40 - On 07/19/2009 at 3:39pm by myfavoriteplay
yeah but the op probs looks like some paki with a beard and shit
#21 - On 07/19/2009 at 2:37pm by leoofbodom
I think the issue, from the perspective of Security, is that in all likelihood the OP was running towards the area where people exit from the Gates, towards the big "No Entry" signs, as if to get through. Benign intentions, but somewhat suspicious if you think everyone you see is a terrorist. To a normal, rational person just a fine behavior, but evil from the perspective of the TSA.
I agree. That is the most probable situation. OP probably was waiting near that sign, the closest point for non ticketed individuals to go, and ran up to her bf who was coming out of it...
Read the FML again...her boyfriend was meeting HER at the airport, so SHE was the one coming out of the security area, hence running AWAY from security...
#48 - On 07/19/2009 at 4:39pm by Puolukka
She was the one travelling - she was running away from the gate to her boyfriend. And in every airport I've been to recently, you can't get through security and into the gate areas if you don't have a boarding pass. So unless this airport had a different policy or was just really fucking small, she would have already left the boarding areas and gone past security to even see her boyfriend waiting for her.
....the hell? I think there's more to this story than you've told us, OP. A security guard wouldn't just out-of-the-blue tackle you. He must have yelled at you first, caught your eye and gestured for you to stop, or gotten your attention and warned you first. Maybe you didn't notice these things, though, which is why you kept going, and he thought you had noticed but were refusing to obey. Either way, people are late or rushed in the airports all the time, and have to run, and I don't see them getting tackled. Hope you're OK, though, if this story is true.
fuck your life
too bad
seriously.
one time i was in the george bush airport in houston
some kind of george airport lol
and on the escalator going up
i walked down because i didnt wanna leave.
i was 9.
and i had a guard scream at me.
lol
so really
you think running through airports is smart?
DEE DEE DEE. someone didn't think!
#32 - On 07/19/2009 at 3:19pm by iloveespresso
Did you seriously just say running through airports isn't smart? So if you're late for your flight you're just supposed to take the scenic route there?
#99 - On 07/20/2009 at 4:48am by kellbelle26
If he boyfriend was coming to pick her up then I am assuming she was running towards the exits and not towards security.
But ran in an airport before when my fiance came back from France after being there for 3 weeks. I ran towards where people out from (not towards an exit) and didn't get yelled at or tackled. I halfway tackled my fiance though haha.
Agreed. People run through airports all the time. If she was assaulted, then get the security guard fired and LAWSUIT! It's the American way!
#43 - On 07/19/2009 at 3:55pm by Phillay632
This doesn't make sense to me. Family members can only go as far as right outside security, which means the OP must have already exited the security area to see her boyfriend and start running towards him. So I don't know why a security guard would attack someone who was running in the opposite direction of where the planes are.
And to conclude my point from earlier(lol)... I work at the airport and fly from time to time so I know what I'm saying. Ppl DO run in airports especially the big ones with the concourses. And it does look normal because they're usually carrying or draggin their carry-ons indicating they're late for a flight
What the hell kind of airport is this? I see people running through airports all the damn time.
I always go through large airports, so it's common to see people rushing to catch connecting flights and such, but I don't understand why it'd be a problem at small airports either.
damn that really sucks but if i saw that i think i would have laughed
#59 - On 07/19/2009 at 5:43pm by katherinebby17
Sue the airport. People fucking run in airports all the time. Did he ever stop to think "HEY! MAYBE SHES LATE FOR A FLIGHT?!?!" Sue the guard as well, fuck his life.
THATS RETARDED!!! it probably wasn't international then. people run in airports ALL THE TIME!!! it's called being late for a flight!! i had to run across an international airport before, i was ten mins late!! ahhaha, he dumb
#65 - On 07/19/2009 at 7:12pm by russianredgirl
I'm kind of glad I read this, I'm flying back to my college town on Friday and finally going to see my boyfriend after over a month...I will be so excited to see him but i'll make sure not to run!
#70 - On 07/19/2009 at 8:30pm by kaleid0scopeEyes
thats pretty gay of the guard i mean you probably looked overjoyed... the terrorists will be the ones NOT smiling dumbass guard
at least they didn't taser you like they did with some polish guy at vancouver airport. he also died from taser injuries. nonetheless, FYL
I wouldn't be surprised to hear a guy got shot at an airport while he was scratching his balls because a guard thought he may be triggering a bomb, I really wouldn't
#77 - On 07/19/2009 at 10:17pm by TheBigGamer
I call bull. I travel as a job and I run all the time to catch late flights. It is not a huge deal to see someone running in an airport. That guard is retarded.
#79 - On 07/19/2009 at 10:26pm by mister_smith
I hate it when that happens...
All you're trying to do is make a dramatic scene with that song "Reunited and it feels so gooood", and then the next thing you know, your nose is broken...
FYL indeed...
#81 - On 07/19/2009 at 11:14pm by highjumper31
Bullshit.
Running in an airport,train station, subway or anything is not something you get tackled for.
ohhhh jeez :[
I broke my nose. It sucks.
New Jersey, eh?
(yes, I'm Canadian)
Was it in Newark? They're pretty intense there. I arrived in Newark from Rome and departed there for Toronto and it was top notch security. It was pretty frightening.
#83 - On 07/19/2009 at 11:44pm by Bdellophobic
I have to call bullshit on this one. If she were running through the airport, I'm sure any guard that was concerned would at least yell "Hey you, stop!" before TACKLING an American citizen into the ground. I mean, how does running even implicate anything threatening? Would terrorists really strike us by running at our citizens and battering them? Do suicide bombs require a running start? Come on people, this is ridiculous. It's not like the security guard couldn't plainly see that she's just a normal American woman, and not an Islamic fundamentalist or something...
I think it was probably just the kind of person the guard was.
Some people are just plain idiots and take anything serious.
And btw, white American women can be terrorists :P
you never know these days
#85 - On 07/19/2009 at 11:48pm by Bdellophobic
HAHAHAHAHAHA thats really funny. but sucks for you...
I dont know what airport this was but the ones Ive been to people run all the time, there are generally several people that have to run to catch flights. I know Ive run many times to catch a flight.
What happened to all that "We're not going to let the terrorists win" talk after 9/11? If people are so suspicious that a security guard feels the need to tackle someone for running in an airport then the terrorists have won. Good job everyone!
hahahaha, I lul'd. maybe next time when you are running you shouldent yell, "DOWN WITH THE INFIDELS".
#102 - On 07/20/2009 at 8:18am by buckweat420
Haha. You probably have a good case for a lawsuit, assuming there were no signs saying "No running". Go for broke!
#104 - On 07/20/2009 at 10:59am by Chubtubdaplaya
Be serious, the guard's only too fond of soccer, and a pretty good defender, BRAAAAAZIL!!!! no, no USA USA USA!!!!
At least now you can sue for emotional distress AND the medical bill.
#109 - On 07/20/2009 at 10:48pm by tehredbaran
those fucking shithead airport security people have a serious power trip problem. anybody who flies regularly will tell you that. they are given way too much power and getting them reprimanded is extremely difficult
#110 - On 07/20/2009 at 11:45pm by ConSeannery
you can't sue for emotional distress...well, i suppose you can, but the airport can turn around and appeal and any compensation the idiot judge gave you for emotional distress WILL be taken back
Yikes. :\ Well it's nice to see one of these NOT ending in 'he was with another girl' or 'he'd been cheating on me the whole time'. :)
That's pretty lame. You'd think running in airports would be fine, considering that it's common for people to be late to flights and as a result, rush to get to their terminal on time. That guard sounds like a total jerk. He should have just ran after the OP and demanded she stop and if she didn't comply, THEN try something a little less severe instead of tackling her to the ground from the start.
I call BS. Really, a security guard would have yelled at you to stop before just straight up tackling you. If this is for real, which I seriously doubt it is, then YDI for being an idiot and treating an airport like your own personal gym/playground.
#116 - On 07/21/2009 at 8:44pm by mkivsuptt
I call BS as well.. I have ran through airports several times and haven't had an issue. Also have seen others running. Usually it is because a gate is closing soon.
i think it's true. they never let anyone behind into the gates or terminals unless they have a ticket, so someone attempting to run into the terminal, and by extension onto a plane, would arouse the guard. no bs.
#118 - On 07/22/2009 at 9:35pm by kirstie014
Aye, dumbass guard. Way to ruin the moment you overprecautious fuck!
#119 - On 07/23/2009 at 5:09pm by briesparksthesun
Ok, as an Airport Police Dispatcher, I can tell you that this is a load of crap. They wouldn't just tackle somebody that was running, they would stop them and question them.
