A Cambridge University professor says she had to strip down to her “scrappy undies” while going through airport security.
Classics Professor Mary Beard took to social media on Wednesday to expose the embarrassing episode at Heathrow Airport, saying she was asked to take off her “tunic.”
“I know rules are rules (and we all depend on airport security) but was a bit surprised to be told to take off what I think is a ‘tunic’ (they thought was a ‘jacket’) at Heathrow security this morning,” Beard wrote on Twitter.
But she said the request left her just in her “scrappy undies” to the horror of other passengers.
“My little black vest, no bra, not a good look!” Heard wrote.
Heathrow Airport apologized to the professor for the miscommunication in a response on Twitter.
“We are very sorry to hear this and apologize for the experience you have had,” the airport wrote, requesting more details so it “can look into the matter.”
Beard replied that she had “no desire” to see the employees reprimanded for the incident.
Mary Beard after being made a Dame Commander of the British Empire at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace in 2018.Getty Images“To be honest, I’m not very easily humiliated, but it was a surprise!” she wrote. “Staff polite but insistent (following instructions, I guess, don’t want to get them into trouble).”
A Heathrow spokesperson later issued a statement apologizing again for the search in plain sight, BBC reported.
“Our colleagues work incredibly hard to keep Britain’s skies safe and any passenger is able to be searched in private,” the statement said. “We apologize that this did not happen in this instance.”
