A TSA passenger is suing the agency after agents allegedly forced her through an Advanced Imaging Technology scanner, destroying her spinal cord implant. Kerry Thomas claims she requested a pat-down search at Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport due to her medical device, but agents insisted she use the scanner despite her warnings.

Thomas's 12-page complaint details how TSA workers ignored her medical identification card and pleas for accommodation. She told agents her spinal cord stimulator could be damaged by the scanner's electromagnetic field. One agent allegedly told her the only way to board was through the machine, while another falsely claimed it had been "adjusted" to prevent harm.

When Thomas entered the scanner, she immediately felt a shock that destroyed her implant, causing severe pain and requiring surgery. Her lawsuit seeks damages for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and permanent injury. The complaint alleges TSA agents violated agency rules requiring pat-down alternatives for passengers with medical devices that screening machines may damage.