49 U.S.C. § 44902 — Refusal to transport passengers and property

(a) Mandatory refusal. The TSA Administrator must issue regulations requiring an air carrier, intrastate air carrier, or foreign air carrier to refuse to transport (1) a passenger who will not consent to a search under section 44901(a) to determine whether the passenger unlawfully carries a dangerous weapon, explosive, or other destructive substance; or (2) a passenger’s property when the passenger will not consent to a search to determine whether the property unlawfully contains one of those items. (b) Permitted refusal. Subject to TSA regulations, a carrier may refuse to transport a passenger or property that the carrier decides is, or might be, harmful to safety. (c) Agreement to consent. An agreement by a carrier to carry passengers or property is treated as including an agreement that the passenger or property will not be carried if the required consent to search is not given.