How about a little common sense?
Security in aiports is at high alert right now.
The security agents are under intense scrutiny right now.
More thorough searches/screenings are called for in some random cases and some specific cases (Travelocity purchased tickets).
What is more likely, she is/was a PITA who wouldn't cooperate fully with the security agents or the FBI has her on a watch list that flagged her name as a suspected terrorist and was therefore denied access to her flight?
I tend to side with the PITA theory myself. And you can't use the *evil repo* argument with me. I hardly ever agree with the conservatives here as you well know. So I am not predisposed to accept govt versions of stories.