9 People Kicked Off Plane After Re-Mark

[western_chaos]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090102/ap_on_re_us/muslim_passengers_removed

WASHINGTON ? Nine Muslim passengers were kicked off a flight from Washington, D.C., to Florida after other passengers reported hearing a suspicious remark about airplane security.

AirTran Airways spokesman Tad Hutcheson called the incident on the New Year's Day flight from Reagan National Airport to Orlando, Fla., a misunderstanding, but defended the company's response. He said the airline followed federal rules and did nothing wrong.

One of the Muslim passengers, Kashif Irfan, told The Washington Post the confusion began when his brother was talking about the safest place to sit on an airplane.

"My brother and his wife were discussing some aspect of airport security," Irfan said. "The only thing my brother said was, 'Wow, the jets are right next to my window.'"

Irfan told the newspaper he thought he and the others were profiled because of their appearance. The men had beards and the women wore headscarves, traditional Muslim attire.

Irfan, 34, is an anesthesiologist and his brother is a lawyer. Both live in Alexandria, Va., with their families, and were born in Detroit. They were traveling with their wives, Irfan's sister-in-law and Irfan's three sons, ages 7, 4 and 2. A family friend also was traveling with the group to a religious retreat in Florida.

Federal officials ordered the rest of the passengers from the plane and re-screened them before allowing the flight to depart about two hours behind schedule.

The family was upset that AirTran didn't allow the Muslim passengers to book another flight. The airline said in a news release Friday that one of the passengers became irate, made inappropriate comments and had to be escorted away from a gate podium by local law enforcement.

"The FBI agents actually cleared our names," Inayet Sahin, one of the family members kicked off the flight, told CNN. "They went on our behalf and spoke to the airlines and said, 'There is no suspicious activity here. They are clear. Please let them get on a flight so they can go on their vacation,' and they still refused."

The family and friend eventually made it to their destination on a US Airways flight.

Hutcheson said AirTran initially refused to rebook the family because the airline had not been notified the investigation was complete. He said the passengers were offered full refunds and are now welcome to fly on AirTran after being cleared by authorities.

"At the end of the day, people got on and made comments they shouldn't have made on the airplane, and other people heard them," Hutcheson said. "Other people heard them, misconstrued them. It just so happened these people were of Muslim faith and appearance. It escalated, it got out of hand and everyone took precautions."

Christopher White, a federal Transportation Security Administration spokesman, said the situation was handled appropriately.

White said the pilot, after being informed of the remarks, requested that two federal air marshals on board remove the individuals. TSA then alerted authorities, including the FBI, which conducted an investigation. Once authorities determined there was no threat, it was up to the airline whether to allow the family to reboard.

"If the pilot is uncomfortable with someone flying on their plane, that's their decision," White said.

A spokesman for the FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.

One of the passengers removed, Abdur Razack Aziz, said he will consider a lawsuit.

[mrlee]

Dont blame the pilots.

Blame your government and its propaganda

and blame the radical muslims giving you a bad name.

I dont blame the air staff for taking precautions. Out of line to not let them back on after the FBI said they were clear.

But i can understand why they had them took off and searched. How would you feel if you thought you were flying on the plane with a potential group of terrorists.

[western_chaos]

I blame the country for being as retarded as it is about this.

Imagine the pilots who are innoncent americans having their rights to travel taken away. Why don't you put yourself in their shoes?

I hope they do sue the airlines for this!

I once sat next to a middle-eastern guy and I never got all panicked. And, it was like around 2003-2004.

[western_chaos]

The Apology comes:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090103/ap_on_re_us/muslim_passengers_removed

WASHINGTON ? AirTran Airways apologized Friday to nine Muslims kicked off a New Year's Day flight to Florida after other passengers reported hearing a suspicious remark about airplane security. One of the passengers said the confusion started at Reagan National Airport just outside Washington, D.C., when he talked about the safest place to sit on an airplane.

Orlando, Fla.-based AirTran said in a statement that it refunded the passengers' air fare and planned to reimburse them for replacement tickets they bought on US Airways. AirTran also offered to take the passengers back to Washington free of charge.

"We apologize to all of the passengers ? to the nine who had to undergo extensive interviews from the authorities and to the 95 who ultimately made the flight," the statement said. "Nobody on Flight 175 reached their destination on time on New Year's Day, and we regret it."

AirTran said the incident was a misunderstanding, but the steps taken were necessary.

Two U.S. Muslim advocacy groups, however, were critical of the airline's actions. The Muslim Public Affairs Council called on federal officials Friday to open an investigation. And the Council for American-Islamic Relations filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation, saying "It is incumbent on any airline to ensure that members of the traveling public are not singled out or mistreated based on their perceived race, religion or national origin."

Bill Adams, a DOT spokesperson, said the department thoroughly investigates discrimination complaints but would not comment further.

One of the Muslim passengers, Atif Irfan, said the family probably would not fly home with AirTran because members had already booked tickets on another airline, but appreciated the apology.

"It's definitely nice to hear," he said.

Irfan said when he boarded the flight Thursday, he mentioned something to his wife and sister-in-law about having to sit in the back. His sister-in-law replied that she believed the back of the airplane was the safest, but Irfan believed it was better to be by the wings.

"She said, 'Yes, I guess it makes sense not to be close to the engine in case something happens,'" Irfan recalled Friday. "It was a very benign conversation."

Shortly after taking their seats, members of the group were approached by federal air marshals and taken off the plane, Irfan said. They stood in the jet bridge connected to the airport and answered questions while other passengers exited and glared at them.

Irfan said he thought he and the others were profiled because of their appearance. The men had beards and the women wore headscarves, traditional Muslim attire.

"My wife and I are generally very careful about what we say when we step on the plane," he said, adding that they have received suspicious looks in the past. "We're used to this sort of thing ? but obviously not to this extent."

Irfan, 29, is a lawyer who lives in Alexandria, Va. He was traveling to a religious retreat in Florida with his wife, along with his brother and his family, including three children, ages 7, 4 and 2. They were joined by his brother's sister-in-law and a family friend.

Federal officials ordered the rest of the passengers from the plane and re-screened them before allowing the flight to depart about two hours behind schedule. The family and friend eventually made it to their destination on a US Airways flight.

Family members were upset that AirTran didn't allow them to book another flight. The airline said in a news release Friday that one of the passengers became irate, made inappropriate comments and had to be escorted away from a gate podium by local law enforcement.

"We felt very disrespected," Irfan said. He said FBI agents had cleared their names and asked AirTran to put them on another flight, but to no avail.

Christopher White, a federal Transportation Security Administration spokesman, said the security concern on the plane was handled appropriately.

White said the pilot, after being informed of the remarks, requested that two federal air marshals on board remove the nine passengers. TSA then alerted authorities, including the FBI, which conducted an investigation.

"Our role, basically, is to determine whether (those) in question pose a threat," FBI spokesman Bill Carter said.

He and White said that once authorities determined there was no security threat, it was up to the airline on how to proceed.

"If the pilot is uncomfortable with someone flying on their plane, that's their decision," White said.

Discount carrier AirTran Airways is a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings Inc. Its hub is in Atlanta.

___

Associated Press Writer Jennifer Kay in Miami contributed to this story.

--------------

My thoughts:

I don't feel as bad about this now. This looked ugly at first.

[Axl4Prez2004]

western_chaos, I'm with you 100%.  I've made the same comments in the past, and guess what?  No problem.  I'm a smiling white guy.  People trust me!  I can do no harm!!  Timothy Mcv...who?     

[freedom78]

I feel bad for the passengers who were profiled. 

I appreciate the Airline's apology.

Still waiting for a public tarring/feathering of the idiot who let his/her racism get the best of him/her.

[The Dog]

Still waiting for a public tarring/feathering of the idiot who let his/her racism get the best of him/her.

this sums it up for me.  once a complaint, or whatever you want to call it, is made, I think its the right thing for the airline/air marshals to come in and do their thing.  They're just doing their jobs. 

it sounds like an extremely benign conversation.  I could see if they were talking about a bomb or blowing shit up or something how that might freak someone out.

on the other hand, sounds like a stupid conversation to begin with.  is any part of a plane really that much safer than another... kind of all looks the same when its crashing into the ground at a million miles an hour.

[Mal Brossard]

on the other hand, sounds like a stupid conversation to begin with.  is any part of a plane really that much safer than another... kind of all looks the same when its crashing into the ground at a million miles an hour.

You're slightly more likely to survive if you're in the back.  Key word: slightly.

[The Dog]

on the other hand, sounds like a stupid conversation to begin with.  is any part of a plane really that much safer than another... kind of all looks the same when its crashing into the ground at a million miles an hour.

You're slightly more likely to survive if you're in the back.  Key word: slightly.

that's if the stink from the bathroom doesn't kill you first

[D]

As bad as the Oklahoma bombing was, Surely Axl4prez u can't compare that to 9/11.

It may not be "fair" but when your people commit heinous acts, unfortunately this is the fallout due to that.

when you are thousands of feet in the air, I'd rather someone be "Too" Cautious and offend someone, than be lax and something horrible happen.

If that is "racist"  So what, write your congressman.

It's human nature. If you work in a convenience store and you have been held and robbed at gun point by a certain race, you will definitely feel nervous every time another person of that race comes in. It isn't racism, it is just human nature to react a certain way because of a past traumatic situation.

[freedom78]

As bad as the Oklahoma bombing was, Surely Axl4prez u can't compare that to 9/11.

It may not be "fair" but when your people commit heinous acts, unfortunately this is the fallout due to that.

when you are thousands of feet in the air, I'd rather someone be "Too" Cautious and offend someone, than be lax and something horrible happen.

If that is "racist"  So what, write your congressman.

It's human nature. If you work in a convenience store and you have been held and robbed at gun point by a certain race, you will definitely feel nervous every time another person of that race comes in. It isn't racism, it is just human nature to react a certain way because of a past traumatic situation.

Like when your President orders the unnecessary invasion of a country and, as a result, your people are targeted for beheading and whatnot? 

I agree that it's natural to be wary of something "different", until you're used to it.  I disagree that people talking about flying while on a plane is a trigger for reasonable actions based on past circumstances. 

[D]

Being Beheaded and kicked off an airplane are in no way similar first of all.

In the end, sure they were in the wrong, but If I am ever on a plane and this were to happen, I'd rather the Air Marshals be wrong and get a little PR hit than do nothing out of fear of being labeled whatever and the plane go down.

These people have a very stressful, very important job.  They are allowed a mistake or two in my opinion and I don't think people should jump their ass or ridicule them.

What story is worse:


9 People are wrongly kicked off a plane blah blah blah

OR

Plane hijacked and crashes, Federal Air Marshals failed to heed a potential threat, hundreds of people killed.


I'll take door number 1

[Axl4Prez2004]

Bullshit D.

There were 2 fucking air marshalls on the plane from what I understand.  Everything was kosher until the people were denied the flight with no justification.  If the marshalls thought it necessary to keep an extra eye on them without it being overt, I don't have a problem with it.  What should have happened was sure, ground the plane and have the suspected passengers be re-screened (along with an equal random sampling from the rest of the flight), get it done, and get the folks on their respected flights. 

Hey D, perhaps we should have separate flights for those of middle eastern background, eh?  No worries then.  Hey, why let them fly at all?  I mean, seriously, wouldn't it seriously decrease the risk of a repeat 9/11 attack?  Let's think safety first! 

btw, do you honestly think the next major terrorist attack will come in the same form?  You've gotta be kidding me. 

btw D, yeah you'll take Door #1 because you're not arab-american.   

 

[mrlee]

i agree with D. point 1.

So what if he isnt arab-american.

Its common fuckin sense!!!

[Axl4Prez2004]

i agree with D. point 1.

So what if he isnt arab-american.

Its common fuckin sense!!!

No Mrlee, common fuckin sense says you let the people fly when you realize it's a misunderstanding.  Common sense says you re-screen folks and once you determine things are kosher, you proceed. 

[SLCPUNK]

on the other hand, sounds like a stupid conversation to begin with.  is any part of a plane really that much safer than another... kind of all looks the same when its crashing into the ground at a million miles an hour.

You're slightly more likely to survive if you're in the back.  Key word: slightly.

Closer to the front the safer you are...

[mrlee]

i agree with D. point 1.

So what if he isnt arab-american.

Its common fuckin sense!!!

No Mrlee, common fuckin sense says you let the people fly when you realize it's a misunderstanding.  Common sense says you re-screen folks and once you determine things are kosher, you proceed. 

he didnt talk about the letting back on etc. He just said wrongly being kicked off out of caution.

[JMack]

Look I don't give a damn who I sit next to after passing through security and if you are taken off and re-screened, then you should be allowed back on or perhaps another flight if the plane is gone.  Precaution is paramount of course.  To tell you the truth if everyone boarding a fucking plane dressed in Arab garb, there wouldn't be any problems.  A sheet, head scarf or whatever (sometimes) and sandal's....What's to search?  What can you hide?  In the end the one side complaining is usually leaving out some part of the story to look for the legal monetary value and publicity.  I don't care because I myself a full blooded American married with 2.5 children with a dog is on the watch list??  Why??  Well I was in the military and made many 1 way flights.  (yes spooky @ times)   I'm also a retired NYC cop.  That's is why I should be worried.  I swore to uphold the laws of the US constitution and laws of N.Y.S. and did so with numerous commendations for 20 + years.  Why should I be on a list and be inconvenienced every time I board a plane mind you without complaint.  I could be a prick a cause a commotion but I don't why?  Because I don't want the publicity nor do I wish some lawyer to try and make a few dollars and a name for all involved.  This is just always a monetary/publicity stunt.     

[Sin Cut]

If I they didn't wear those muslim robes, there wouldn't have been any problem.

Don't you agree?

[JMack]

If I they didn't wear those muslim robes, there wouldn't have been any problem.

Don't you agree?

Oh there would most likely be problems but not with bringing through anything dangerous.  Or at least I would hope so.