Nashville, TN – Air Marshals are on every commercial airplane (depending on who you ask) to ensure the safety of domestic passengers on some 30,000 daily flights. And they get bored, apparently.
One such federal agent is accused of using his cell phone to take upskirt pictures of female passengers as they board flights at Nashville International Airport (BNA).
Adam Bartsch was arrested Thursday after boarding Southwest Airlines flight 3132, which was scheduled from Nashville to Tampa, Florida. A witness claims to have seen Bartsch taking lewd pictures on his phone. Not knowing that he was an Air Mashal, the witness grabbed the phone and alerted a flight attendant.
He was actually on official duty at the time, was arrested by airport police, and apparently admitted to taking the photos.
TSA spokesman David Castelveter released a statement which said :
“TSA does not tolerate criminal behavior. The agency has removed this individual from his current duties and is in the process of suspending or terminating his employment. TSA is cooperating fully with investigators.”
Southwest Airlines also condemned Bartsch’s actions in their own statement:
“We removed a passenger from Flight No. 3132 from Nashville to Tampa prior to departure due to a Customer concern that was brought to our attention. We turned the matter over to local law enforcement, and the passenger did not travel as scheduled. The rest of the passengers and crew continued on to Tampa as scheduled.”
Adding insult to insult to injury, the flight was delayed for about an hour. Bartsch was booked and later released on bond, and more than likely will lose his Air Mashal badge.
[Image: Shutterstock]