WASHINGTON — Dulles International Airport is leading the nation in a category it probably wishes it didn’t.
The Transportation Security Administration has paid out $3 million to passengers to settle claims that its agents lost, broke or stole luggage or items inside passengers’ bags during screenings. Dulles tied with Orlando for the largest percentage of passengers who filed successful claims, USA Today reports.
Dulles had 1,086 total claims, out of which 331 were approved or settled for a total of $67,952.16 between 2010 and 2014.
New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport and Los Angeles International were at the top of the list in terms of pure numbers of passengers who filed claims that got paid by the TSA.
The TSA tells USA Today that the successful claims represent a small fraction of the 2.5 million pieces of luggage its agents handle every day, and that more than half of all claims are denied for lack of evidence. A former TSA officer adds that people’s bags spend very little of their journey in the hands of the agency, and that the airlines themselves are far more likely to damage or steal items.
Still, the numbers are troubling. U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Florida, whose district includes Orlando, says he’s been having trouble getting straight answers: “It warrants further review, even a subpoena for the information if that’s what it takes.”
The numbers for Dulles are here.
You can find the numbers for any airport here.
