SEATAC, Wash. -- The Transportation Security Administration has paid over $3 million over the past five years over claims security scanners sole, broke, or lost passenger property.
$100,414.80 went to passengers at Sea-Tac International Airport between 2010-2014. There were 1,284 total claims filed at Sea-Tac with 494 approved or settled, according to the report from USA Today.
At the much smaller Bellingham International Airport, 15 approved claims led to $2,276.88 in payouts.
After TSA investigated claims nationwide, the agency approved or settled with passengers in about 15,000 cases. That's nearly 1-in-3 claims filed from 2010 to 2014.
Payments ranged from a few dollars for missing food or medicine to several thousand dollars for jewelry, electronics and other items passengers said were broken or disappeared.
John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York topped the list with 857 paid claims worth $235,613.71. Los Angeles International Airport was next at 791 worth $236,923.43.
The amount of settled claims has been decreasing at Sea-Tac, going from about 150 in 2011 to less than 50 last year.
Portland International Airport had 181 approved claims for $33,243.06 and Spokane International had 68 claims that resulted in $15,159.92 paid out.
If you notice damage or theft, and suspect a TSA officer was responsible, the agency provides a form online. Claimants must provide proof of the damage, the cost and TSA's negligence.
KING 5's Travis Pittman and USA TODAY contributed to this report.
Follow Michael Konopasek on Twitter @mikekonopasek
