dangers in diapers

My colleague Dave Goldiner had a story yesterday about infants and toddlers who have been barred from flying because their names appear on the federal “no-fly” list of potential terrorists.

We have a follow-up today about Sarah Zapolsky’s 1-year-old son:

[E]xperts and officials say there’s no way the toddler’s name will be taken off the federal no-fly list — even after he and another tot made headlines for being stopped as potential terror threats.

“His name is the same or similar to someone on the no-fly list,” said Ann Davis, a spokeswoman for the Transportation Security Administration, explaining that even though a baby is not a threat, someone out there with the same name is, and the name must be kept on the list.

The best Zapolsky and her husband can hope for is a letter that tells airport screeners that the little boy is harmless, and that he’s been added to a “cleared” list.

But, it turns out, that, too, will be impossible for the 1-year-old.

Before the federal agency will issue such a letter, the person on the list must fill out and have notarized an application that asks for things like height, weight and three forms of government ID.

“Um, excuse me, but he’s growing,” said Zapolsky. She also noted her son lacks documents like a military ID, voter’s registration or a driver’s license.

ALSO IN TODAY’S PAPER: An interview with 36-year-old “real-life” virgin Rob Mergen of Bedminster, N.J. Mergen invites readers to email him at robmergen@comcast.net, saying, “Maybe I’ll find my wife through your article.”