Hundreds of Unpaid TSA Agents Have Quit, Worsening Airport Waits

More than 300 TSA workers have quit, Homeland Security posted on X (formerly Twitter). Blaming Democrats for the partial shutdown that began Feb. 14, the agency stated workers have been working without pay for the third time in nearly six months.  

Travelers have felt the impact of a reduced workforce as airport wait times have stretched to three or four hours. Airports are requesting donations from travelers to help sustain workers, as few resources are available for federal employees this time around. In this shutdown, only the Department of Homeland Security is affected—not the entire federal government—and air traffic controllers have been spared, thanks to funding for the rest of the year.

Meanwhile, airlines have written a joint letter to Congress urging an end to the shutdown and the restoration of funding for DHS. American Airlines, JetBlue, Delta, Southwest, Alaska, United, and Airlines for America signed the letter, stating, “TSA officers just received $0 paychecks. That is simply unacceptable. It’s difficult, if not impossible, to put food on the table, put gas in the car and pay rent when you are not getting paid.”

A passenger filed a lawsuit against American Airlines after she was served dumplings with a sauce that triggered an allergic reaction. The incident occurred when Heather and Brent Wing were flying from Heathrow to Dallas-Fort Worth in August last year. Heather, who is severely allergic to tree nuts, disclosed her medical condition to the airline before and during the flight. However, the couple alleges that the crew attempted to serve her snacks with tree nuts despite repeated warnings. She was later offered dumplings with a sauce containing the allergen. After eating the snack, Heather experienced an anaphylactic reaction.

The couple alleges that attendants were slow to respond, and it was fellow passengers who initially came to their aid. Afterward, they formally complained to the airline and sought compensation for their hotel stay, medical expenses, and emotional harm. They offered to settle for first- or business-class tickets and $50,000 in cash. The airline instead offered 15,000 miles each and a $775.59 refund, admitting that their luggage was mishandled. Unsatisfied with the compensation, the couple filed a lawsuit.

Court documents state that Heather suffered physical injury and emotional trauma and continues to have medical complications, while Brent suffered mental anguish from witnessing his partner’s near-death experience. The couple is seeking damages, attorney’s fees, menu labeling, proper allergen training, and claims handling. Their claims include negligence and a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, PEOPLE reported.

Irish low-cost airline Ryanair is facing trouble with Austrian authorities after failing to refund a passenger whose flight was delayed by 13 hours, despite court orders. In response, bailiffs boarded a plane and placed a seizure sticker on the cabin, giving the court control over the aircraft. All of this is over compensation totaling €890 ($1,000).

The dispute dates back to 2024, when a passenger’s flight from Linz, Austria, to Mallorca was delayed by 13 hours. The passenger booked another flight and sought compensation and expenses from Ryanair, which rejected the claim. The passenger took the airline to court, which ordered Ryanair to pay compensation plus legal fees. When Ryanair ignored the order, Austrian authorities intervened.

Bailiffs asked the crew on a Ryanair flight departing Linz for London to hand over the money, but since the airline operates cashless flights, the crew couldn’t comply. Authorities then put a “cuckoo sticker” on the plane, granting the court control and the ability to sell the plane if the debt is not paid. For now, the plane was allowed to take off, but the passenger will continue to pursue the claim, according to their lawyer.

The European Union has strict passenger protection laws, requiring airlines to compensate passengers if a flight is delayed by more than three hours.

Passengers on an Emirates flight from Edinburgh to Dubai spent 11 hours onboard only to return to their original destination. The flight, which took off Sunday, was rerouted back to Edinburgh just past Egypt after Dubai’s airport suspended flights due to an Iranian drone attack on a fuel tank near the airport. Authorities suspended flights as a precautionary measure.

The United Arab Emirates is under a Level 3: Reconsider Travel warning, and the U.S. has ordered its personnel to leave the country due to armed conflict.

Related: Travel Influencers Shamed for Absurd Reactions to Iran War