Lisa Wilkinson calls out “inappropriate” airport pat-down

By James Harrison

The Project host Lisa Wilkinson took to Twitter last week to hit out at airport security protocol over public pat-downs which are “embarrassing” and “should be fixed,” the TV presenter claimed.

Wilkinson vented her frustrations after she was patted down at the airport because the underwire in her bra and zipper in her jeans set of the security scanners at two different airports.

“At Brisbane Airport and Adelaide Airport the scan showed up the underwire in my bra and zip on my jeans and I had to have a full pat-down in both areas,” Wilkinson tweeted.

“Embarrassing, uncomfortable, inappropriate and should be fixed.”

Wilkinson’s tweet was in response to ABC journalist Louise Milligan who shared her own “embarrassing” pat-down experience while using the new full-body scan machines.

“I’m at Sydney Airport and new full-body security screening was made to take off fitted business jacket (only had little camisole underneath),” Milligan wrote on Twitter.

“Have never had this happen anywhere. Man in front, in big bulky jumper, not made to change.

“It was embarrassing, uncomfortable, creepy.

“I mentioned to lovely Qantas staff and they were incensed and said they have had multiple women complaining of similar security heavy-handedness this week.

“They said a woman was crying after being forced to remove her T-shirt. They’ve complained to airport managers.”

These new full-body scan machines are a real issue @Milliganreports. At @BrisbaneAirport & @AdelaideAirport the scan showed up the underwire in my bra & zip on my jeans & I had to have a full pat-down in both areas. Embarrassing, uncomfortable, inappropriate & should be fixed. https://t.co/sw1niYp5ud

— Lisa Wilkinson (@Lisa_Wilkinson) June 16, 2022

News.com.au reported that new measures in the United States mean that Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents at airports have five different physical pat-down options at the screening line, depending on an officer’s risk assessment.

Denver International Airport, at the time of changing how pat-downs are conducted, told employees and flight crews that the “more rigorous” searches will be “more thorough and may involve an officer making more intimate contact than before”.

Wilkinson and Milligan’s tweets conjured other Twitter users to express their outrage and share similar stories.

“So sorry this happened to you,” one wrote.

“Bloody ridiculous! They would have had to hold me down and take my jacket off. No way – so, so rude!’ another woman said.

“It’s invasive and unnecessary and I worry about the images being stored from this and what happens to them,” another Twitter user wrote.

Sydney Airport apologised to Milligan in a response to her tweet, saying that it will be following it up with its security contractor.

Louise, we are really sorry this happened and are urgently following it up with our security contractor. Thank you for bringing it to our attention. If you have further details, please send us a DM.

— Sydney Airport (@SydneyAirport) June 16, 2022

Milligan replied: “Thank you for replying. They were rude and, frankly, sexist. I felt humiliated.”

Featured Image: Instagram/lisa_wilkinson

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adelaide airport Airport pat-down brisbane airport Denver International airport full-body scan machines Lisa Wilkinson Louise Milligan qantas sydney airport Transportation Security Administration tsa