Transportation Chief Criticizes Airport Pat-Down of 6-Year-Old Girl

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The U.S. transportation chief suggested Sunday that it was inappropriate for a New Orleans airport screener to frisk a 6-year-old girl -- an incident caught on camera and posted on YouTube earlier this month. 

The Transportation Security Administration has defended its actions after the girl's parents complained, though the TSA plans to review its policies. The Kentucky couple had said their daughter started crying after she received the pat-down. 

Asked about the incident on "Fox News Sunday," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said, "I wouldn't want my granddaughter treated like that." 

LaHood, though, deferred to the TSA on the issue, as that agency is part of the Department of Homeland Security. 

LaHood also commented briefly on an incident in which an Air France plane clipped a smaller plane while taxiing at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. 

"Human error was certainly a factor there," LaHood said.

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TSA: Proper procedures followed in child's pat-down

TSA pats down 6-year-oldSTORY HIGHLIGHTSAn internet video shows the small girl receiving the pat-downThe incident occurred April 5 in the New Orleans airport The TSA says it is exploring moving beyond a "one-size-fits-all" system (CNN) -- An officer who conducted a pat-down of a 6-year-old girl in the New Orleans airport last week "followed proper current screening procedures," the Transportation Security Administration said Tuesday.

However, the agency said it is exploring ways to "focus its resources and move beyond a one-size-fits-all system while maintaining a high level of security."

Video of the April 5 incident was posted on the internet sharing site YouTube. In it, the girl is seen getting patted down by a female TSA officer.

The child was patted down in order to resolve an issue that arose when she went through an advanced imaging technology, or body imaging machine, a TSA official said.

"TSA has reviewed the incident and determined that this officer followed proper current screening procedures," TSA said in a statement. "However, in line with his vision to accelerate TSA's evolution into a truly risk-based, intelligence-driven organization, Administrator (John) Pistole has tasked the agency with exploring additional ways to focus its resources and move beyond a one-size-fits-all system while maintaining a high level of security.

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