Name Mix-Up Puts Senator Kennedy on ‘No Fly’ List

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The New York Sun

WASHINGTON – Senator Kennedy yesterday said he had been misidentified on a terrorism watch list when he tried to board airliners between Washington and Boston.


The well-known Massachusetts Democrat was stopped five times as he tried to board US Airways shuttles because a name similar to his appeared on a list or his name popped up for additional screening.


“If they have that kind of difficulty with a member of Congress, how in the world are average Americans, who are getting caught up in this thing, how are they going to be treated fairly and not have their rights abused?” Mr. Kennedy asked a Homeland Security undersecretary, Asa Hutchinson.


Mr. Hutchinson, who apologized for “any inconvenience” to the senator, was testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the need for the federal government to take over the watch lists, which are currently administered by the airlines.


Mr. Kennedy said he was stopped at airports in Washington, D.C., and Boston three times in March. Airline agents told him he would not be sold a ticket because his name was on a list.


When he asked the agent why, he was told, “We can’t tell you.”


Each time, a supervisor recognized Mr. Kennedy and got him on the flight. But after the third incident, Mr. Kennedy’s staff called the Transportation Security Administration and asked to clear up the confusion.


The TSA said a name similar to Mr. Kennedy’s was on the watch list, and that he was later flagged to go through additional screening. TSA also said that the airlines didn’t handle the matter properly. But twice after contacting TSA, Mr. Kennedy was stopped again at the airline counter.


The American Civil Liberties Union has filed lawsuits in San Francisco and Seattle over this issue, demanding that the government explain how wrongly flagged travelers can get off the lists.


Mr. Hutchinson said that people who experience problems can call the TSA ombudsman to clear things up.


The New York Sun

© 2025 The New York Sun Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The material on this site is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used.

The New York Sun

Sign in or  Create a free account

or
By continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use