A disabled teenager on the way home following treatment for a brain tumour was slammed to the floor and left bloodied and bruised by airport security staff, a lawsuit filed by her family claims.

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Hannah Cohen, who is partially deaf, paralysed and blind in one eye, was heading for Chattanooga from Memphis, Tennessee when she set off a security alarm at an airport checkpoint, reports the Huffington Post.

Hannah, 18, became disorientated by the alarm and attempts by the TSA to search her, the lawsuit claims. Security staff reportedly threw her to the ground, leading her to hit her head.

‘The security personnel failed to recognise that she was confused because of her obvious disability and was unable to cooperate with the search,’ said Hannah’s lawyers, Kelly Pearson and William Hardwick.


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Hannah Cohen’s family want up to $100,000 in damages (Picture: Supplied)

Hannah was arrested but the charges were subsequently dropped.

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According to the lawsuit filed by her family, airport security discriminated against the teenager because of her disability and failed to provide her with reasonable accommodation for her screening.



The suit asks for a maximum of $100,000 (£76,000) and costs for damages which include pain, medical expenses, personal and emotional injury and embarrassment.

The TSA said they would not comment until they had addressed the suit.

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