Muslim passengers removed from DC flight

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Jan 2nd, 2009 | WASHINGTON -- AirTran Airlines says nine Muslim passengers were removed from a flight from Washington, D.C., to Florida after other passengers reported hearing a suspicious remark.

An AirTran spokesman says the it was a misunderstanding. The Muslim passengers say AirTran wouldn't rebook them Thursday and they had to pay for seats on another airline.

Passenger Kashif Irfan tells The Washington Post the confusion began when his brother remarked aloud that the plane's jets were next to his window.

Two other passengers reported hearing what they considered to be a suspicious remark.

AirTran spokesman Tad Hutcheson says the airline strictly followed federal rules.

Federal officials ordered all 104 passengers off the plane and re-screened them before allowing the flight to depart.

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Information from: The Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com

[DeadPoolX 9]

Although not directly related, I'm always concerned that some kid will mention the word "bomb" (or something similar) without realizing how the airline and airport security personnel will react to it.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

If that's right that sounds pretty dodgy.

"the jets are next to my window" is a suspicious remark? Wow...

I guess I should have been removed from my flight the other day for commenting that my view was ####### because I was seated over the wing and engines.

Sounds like ethnic discrimination

[taj'samericanwife 0]

PROBABLY SOME TRASH UNEDUCATED PEOPLE WHO HEARD THE REMARKS...IGNORANTS

[tom&tata 2]

I always requested window seat during long flights and sometimes got seat right above wing/engine. And I know more than 1 occasion that I said out loud to my husband that it defeats the purpose of window seat if I got the view of the wing on 15 hr flight. I never got removed from the plane.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

I guess it is discrimination until the plane goes down in a ball of flames.

[tom&tata 2]

Yes, because when you sit next to window, you can climb out of the window during flight and put explosive on the engine.

[awaterlily 0]

profiling

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I guess it is discrimination until the plane goes down in a ball of flames.

Why would that happen?

Because someone said they could see the engines from their window?

[Niels Bohr 72]

PROBABLY SOME TRASH UNEDUCATED PEOPLE WHO HEARD THE REMARKS...IGNORANTS

True.

However, when I was on ThaiAirways the other day, a group of muslim stood up and prayed towards the side of the rising sun. It freak me out a bit. But, I was also thinking that maybe it's their practice to pray towards the sun in the morning. I wasn't alarmed enough to indicate to the flight attendant.

Thai Airport security is tougher than the US. Every international flight, you must have your bagged open for screening. This happens 100%. At checkin, your bagged is underneath the X-ray. At boarding, you must open up your bags. Double measures.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

I guess it is discrimination until the plane goes down in a ball of flames.

Why would that happen?

Because someone said they could see the engines from their window?

What if it would have and they did nothing. Better safe than sorry. As far as not refunding for the seat is bs though.

[Jenn! 918]

Racial profiling - statistically correct but wrong wrong wrong!

[DeadPoolX 9]

Yes, because when you sit next to window, you can climb out of the window during flight and put explosive on the engine.

William Shatner and John Lithgow thought so...

[NickD 203]

I guess it is discrimination until the plane goes down in a ball of flames.

Why would that happen?

Because someone said they could see the engines from their window?

What if it would have and they did nothing. Better safe than sorry. As far as not refunding for the seat is bs though.

If there was a misunderstanding, should have been cleared up, and why all nine passengers if only one made any kind of remark. Something is missing in this story, typical of the news today, only give have the story, ha, miss Paul Harvey when he gave the other half. Has to be a valid reason why they didn't let those nine passengers reboard, they are in a very good position for a stiff lawsuit.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I guess it is discrimination until the plane goes down in a ball of flames.

Why would that happen?

Because someone said they could see the engines from their window?

What if it would have and they did nothing. Better safe than sorry. As far as not refunding for the seat is bs though.

I would question why an apparently innocuous comment about being seated near the engine is deemed suspicious.

I think too much credence is given by sirlines to the prejudices of staff and other passengers to discriminate against someone for something that if anyone else had said it, would most likely be ignored.