Kalam frisked twice at US airport in September

New Delhi: Former president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was frisked not once but twice at an US airport in September, an act that violates protocol followed by almost every other country.

The incident had occurred at New York's John F Kennedy airport on September 29. Security personnel patted Kalam down before he was allowed aboard an Air India flight.

They then tried to frisk him again once he was seated saying they'd forgotten to check his jacket and shoes for explosives.

But it was not a new experience for Kalam. In April 2009, Kalam had been frisked by officials of US airliner Continental Airlines despite the fact that his name featured in the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security's list of people exempt from security checks in India.

As per the US law, only current cabinet ministers are exempt from security screening.

The Ministry of External Affairs has reacted, saying, "Under US law only cabinet ministers are exempt from security screening. Mr Kalam was accorded due courtesies at the airport. He was escorted to a private screening area."

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