There was recently an uproar in India after former President APJ Abdul Kalam was frisked by the staff of Continental Airlines. But now, the US regulatory body, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), has insisted that the airline was not at fault.
In a statement on its website, TSA said its regulations require pre-embarkation screening of all passengers, irrespective of their rank or position.
"There are reports that the government of India has an official list of VIPs and their spouses that are exempt from pre-board screening procedures. However, while travelling from an international location to the US on an US commercial aircraft, former heads of state and other VIPs are screened according to the same screening procedures as for any other passenger," the statement said.
Earlier, the US airlines had apologised to Kalam for any misunderstanding and inconvenience caused because of the security screening at Indira Gandhi International Airport on April 21.
The airlines issued a statement saying that it has tendered a formal apology to Dr Kalam and sincerely hoped he would fly with them again.
The airline took the step following an FIR by the Civil Aviation Ministry after it forced former President APJ Abdul Kalam to undergo security checking before he boarded a flight in Delhi.
The airlines had breached protocol when it frisked the former president three months ago. The protocol exempts the President and former Presidents from airport security checks.
