3rd woman claims TSA strip search

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Dec. 6 (UPI) -- A third woman has complained that she faced an intrusive security search at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport.

Linda Kallish, of Boynton Beach, Fla., has diabetes and had her glucose monitor and insulin pump attached when she went through a Transportation Security Administration checkpoint at New York's JFK Airport over Thanksgiving. She told WSVN-TV, Miami, she was strip searched in a manner similar to what allegedly occurred to 85-year-old Lenore Zimmerman and 88-year-old Ruth Sherman.

The TSA has denied any wrongdoing, WSVN-TV said Tuesday.

Referring specifically to the allegations by Zimmerman, TSA said it contacted Zimmerman "to apologize that she feels she had an unpleasant screening experience; however, TSA does not include strip searches in its protocols and a strip search did not occur in this case," TSA blogger Bob Burns said in a post on the agency's Web site. "We're currently gathering information and reviewing the screening of this passenger, but we wanted to share what we know so far."

TSA said its review of security camera footage showed Zimmerman was asked to remove a back brace that she had told security personnel she was wearing.