( CNN ) -- An Indiana man is demanding a direct apology from a Transportation Security Administration agent in Florida who , the man says , spilled his grandfather 's ashes during an airport bag check and then laughed off the incident . And John Gross is also demanding that the TSA release any security surveillance tapes of the incident , tapes that the federal agency said simply do n't exist . Gross , 30 , was returning home from visiting family in Orlando , Florida , on June 19 , carrying with him a portion of his grandfather 's ashes that had been passed along by an uncle -- a `` real sentimental kind of guy , '' said Gross -- when he approached TSA screeners . A female agent wearing blue latex gloves inspected the contents of his bag , says Gross , including the jar clearly labeled `` Human Remains . '' Air rage : Passengers 'quicker to snap ' `` I said , 'Please be careful , these are my grandpa 's ashes , ' '' Gross told CNN Wednesday . But , he said , the agent proceeded to stick her finger in the jar then accidentally spilled its contents on the airport floor . She then laughed , according to Gross , not an uproarious cackle , but a chuckle that he found offensive nonetheless . `` She thought it was funny , '' he said . `` I wanted to smack her . '' While not directly contradicting Gross , the TSA said it believes his sequence of events is incorrect . Triumphs and woes : A timeline of the TSA 's evolution . `` Our initial review concluded that the circumstances as described in some reports are inconsistent with what we believe transpired , '' an initial statement from the TSA said . That pronouncement prompted Gross , who said he would otherwise be content to drop his contention , to once again assail the agency . `` I do n't want this to continue , '' he said Wednesday in an interview with CNN , but `` now I 'm really heated because the TSA is coming back and saying there 's inconsistencies in the reports . '' Report : TSA security breaches mishandled . The TSA statement added that `` under no circumstances should a container holding remains be opened . '' `` TSA recognizes the importance of screening human remains with utmost respect and dignity while remaining vigilant of our security mission to protect the traveling public , '' its statement said . TSA spokesman David Castelveter said Tuesday that there is no surveillance video relevant to the episode , and the agency followed that on Wednesday by adding that the security cameras in question are being upgraded . Gross , however , said he believes the agency is concealing the truth . `` If they do n't have any tapes , it obviously shows they are hiding something , '' he told CNN . The situation calmed later Wednesday , after Gross said he received what he viewed as a `` sincere '' and `` heartfelt '' apology from a TSA administrator , but he was still bothered by the federal agency 's public declaration that his story had `` inconsistencies '' with what the TSA said happened . And he still wanted `` the apology from the person who did it ... '' As for the spilled ashes of his grandfather , Gross said he did the best he could to recover as much as possible . `` I could n't get a broom and dust pan , but I picked up the bigger pieces on the ground and I put them in the jar , '' Gross said . `` But not everything . I tried getting what I could but there was a long line behind me . '' No-fly 'glitch ' has toddler removed from plane .
John Gross was carrying his grandfather 's ashes through airport security . He says a TSA screener accidentally spilled the ashes , then laughed off the incident . Gross says he 's received a `` heartfelt '' apology from a TSA administrator . Score: 6